# CVE-2020-23256: electerm allows unauthorized users to execute arbitrary commands

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by sending unverified requests to the Electerm service due to missing authentication.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x73w-g8hx-v7rp

## What is CVE-2020-23256?

CVE-2020-23256 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Electerm 1.3.22, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unverified request to electerms service.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-23256?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including electerm. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `electerm` | npm | All versions to 1.3.22 | None |
| `electerm` | npm | All versions to 1.3.22 | None |

Products: Electerm Project Electerm.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-23256?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-23256 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-23256 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-23256 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-41500](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41500/): electerm has Command Injection Vulnerability via runMac function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-41501](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41501/): electerm has Command Injection Vulnerability via runLinux function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-43941](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43941/): Unvalidated shell.openExternal in electerm allows arbitrary protocol execution via terminal link click (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2026-43944](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43944/): electerm: dangerous code can be run through links or command line (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-45353](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45353/): electerm: Local code through electerm's single-instance socket (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-23256 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-23256 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-23256 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- electerm (npm): affected all versions up to 1.3.22; no fix listed
- electerm (npm): affected all versions up to 1.3.22; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23256/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23256/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-23256
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-23256
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-23256

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23256/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.