# CVE-2026-53542: Termix: Tar option injection in file-manager archive creation allows command execution on managed SSH hosts

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on managed SSH hosts by injecting tar options via file basenames in the file manager.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 25 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rwj6-6vh7-45pv

## What is CVE-2026-53542?

CVE-2026-53542 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Termix-SSH Termix, published on 19 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Termix is a web-based server management platform with SSH terminal, tunneling, and file editing capabilities. Prior to 2.3.2, the archive creation endpoint in src/backend/ssh/file-manager.ts passes selected file basenames to tar without an end-of-options marker and without making the operands unambiguously relative. A user with access to an SSH file-manager session can select basenames beginning with GNU tar options such as --checkpoint=1 and --checkpoint-action=exec, causing tar, tar.gz, tar.bz2, or tar.xz creation to interpret those names as options. The resulting checkpoint action executes commands on the managed SSH host with the privileges of the connected SSH account, allowing file disclosure, modification, and service disruption. This issue is fixed in version 2.3.2.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53542?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-53542?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-53542 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-53542 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-53542 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-53542 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-53542 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Termix-SSH Termix, published on 19 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-53542 exists.

Affected product: Termix-SSH Termix. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-53542/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53542/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53542
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53542
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53542

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53542/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.