The xterm terminal emulator in XFree86 4.2.0 and earlier allows attackers to modify the…
Priority MEDIUM 44Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The xterm terminal emulator in XFree86 4.2.0 and earlier allows attackers to modify the window title via a certain character escape sequence and then insert it back to the command line in the user's terminal, e.g. when the user views a file containing the malicious sequence, which could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.03431 89th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 4 advisories
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0.1 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0.3 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.1.0 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.2.0 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.2.1 | Vulnerable | Xfree86 Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0.1 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0.3 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.1.0 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.0 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
- cpe:2.3:a:xfree86_project:x11r6:4.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.1 Vulnerable ·Xfree86 Project
Remediation
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2003:066 Released 2003-06-25 · Red Hat rating Important: Updated XFree86 packages provide security and bug fixes
- Red Hat Linux 7.3
- RHSA-2003:064 Released 2003-06-25 · Red Hat rating Important: Updated XFree86 4.1.0 packages are available
- Red Hat Linux 7.1
- Red Hat Linux 7.2
- RHSA-2003:067 Released 2003-06-25 · Red Hat rating Important: Updated XFree86 packages provide security and bug fixes
- Red Hat Linux 8.0
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2003:065 Released 2003-06-25 · Red Hat rating ImportantXFree86 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1
- Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:065 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:065 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:065 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:064 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:064 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:066 |
| Red Hat Linux 8.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:067 |
| Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:065 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2003-0063
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4f3f-7mf9-qrhc
References
More Xfree86 Project X11r6 vulnerabilities
- TI-2004-00071 Buffer overflow in the ReadFontAlias function in XFree86 4.1.0 to 4.3.0, when using the… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2004-00070 Buffer overflow in ReadFontAlias from dirfile.c of XFree86 4.1.0 through 4.3.0 allows… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2004-00826 Multiple vulnerabilities in libXpm for 6.8.1 and earlier, as used in XFree86 and other… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2002-01251 Buffer overflow in Dispatch() routine for XFS font server (fs.auto) on Solaris 2.5.1… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-1999-00238 Guessable magic cookies in X Windows allows remote attackers to execute commands, e.g. CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2002-01432 xdm, with the authComplain variable set to false, allows arbitrary attackers to connect… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2003-0063 · CVE Program
- CVE-2003-0063 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4f3f-7mf9-qrhc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2003-0063 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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