CVE-2026-43941 Unvalidated shell.openExternal in electerm allows arbitrary protocol execution via terminal link click
Attackers can execute arbitrary code or access local files by tricking users into clicking malicious links in the terminal interface.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-43941?
CVE-2026-43941 is a critical command injection vulnerability in electerm, published on 8 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
electerm is an open-sourced terminal/ssh/sftp/telnet/serialport/RDP/VNC/Spice/ftp client. In versions 3.8.15 and prior, Electerm's terminal hyperlink handler passes any URL clicked in the terminal directly to shell.openExternal without any protocol validation. An attacker who controls terminal output (e.g., via a malicious SSH server, compromised remote host, or malicious plugin rendering terminal content) can thus achieve arbitrary code execution or local file access on the victim's machine, requiring only that the victim clicks a displayed link. At time of publication, there are no publicly available patches.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43941?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including electerm. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
electerm npm | All versions to 3.8.15 | None |
electerm npm | All versions to 3.8.15 | None |
Products include Electerm Project Electerm.
How do I fix CVE-2026-43941?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-43941 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2026-43941 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43941 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in electerm
- CVE-2026-41500 electerm has Command Injection Vulnerability via runMac function
- CVE-2026-41501 electerm has Command Injection Vulnerability via runLinux function
- CVE-2020-23256 electerm allows unauthorized users to execute arbitrary commands
- CVE-2026-43944 electerm: dangerous code can be run through links or command line
- CVE-2026-45353 electerm: Local code through electerm's single-instance socket
Sources
Also known as GHSA-fwf6-j56g-m97c.