The rxvt terminal emulator 2.7.8 and earlier allows attackers to modify the window title…
Priority LOW 37Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The rxvt terminal emulator 2.7.8 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
EPSS 0.02048 81st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
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 · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.1 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.2 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.3 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.4 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.5 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.6 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.7 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
| cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.7.8 | Vulnerable | Rxvt |
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.1 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.2 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.3 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.4 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.5 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.6 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.7 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
- cpe:2.3:a:rxvt:rxvt:2.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.7.8 Vulnerable ·Rxvt
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2003:055 Released 2003-03-11 · Red Hat rating Importantrxvt 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-2003:055 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:055 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:055 |
| Red Hat Linux 6.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:054 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:054 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:054 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:054 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:054 |
| Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:055 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2003-0066
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h9wv-gwf3-wm7q
References
More Rxvt vulnerabilities
- TI-1999-01134 rxvt, when compiled with the PRINT_PIPE option in various Linux operating systems… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2000-00476 xterm, Eterm, and rxvt allow an attacker to cause a denial of service by embedding… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2003-00020 The menuBar feature in rxvt 2.7.8 allows attackers to modify menu options and execute… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2003-00019 The "screen dump" feature in rxvt 2.7.8 allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2001-01032 Buffer overflow in tt_printf function of rxvt 2.6.2 allows local users to gain privileges… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.6
- TI-2008-01095 rxvt 2.6.4 opens a terminal window on :0 if the DISPLAY environment variable is not set… CVSS 2.0LOW 3.7
Sources
- CVE-2003-0066 · CVE Program
- CVE-2003-0066 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-h9wv-gwf3-wm7q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2003-0066 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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