sys_term.c in telnetd in FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE and other 7.x versions deletes dangerous…
Priority MEDIUM 52CWE-16Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-264.
Summary
sys_term.c in telnetd in FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE and other 7.x versions deletes dangerous environment variables with a method that was valid only in older FreeBSD distributions, which might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by passing a crafted environment variable from a telnet client, as demonstrated by an LD_PRELOAD value that references a malicious library.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.09321 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD and the CNA
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:beta_4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 beta_4 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:current:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 current | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0-release:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0-release | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0_beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0_beta4 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0_releng:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0_releng | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
| cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | FreeBSD |
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:beta_4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 beta_4 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0:current:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 current Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0-release:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0-release Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0_beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0_beta4 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.0_releng:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0_releng Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
- cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-0641
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-5vvp-mjcx-6cg5
References
Exploit 2
Patch 1
More Freebsd vulnerabilities
- TI-2011-04182 Buffer overflow in libtelnet/encrypt.c in telnetd in FreeBSD 7.3 through 9.0, MIT… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2007-03684 Integer overflow in print-bgp.c in the BGP dissector in tcpdump 3.9.6 and earlier allows… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2002-00376 Integer overflow in xdr_array function in RPC servers for operating systems that use… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-05929 Openssh: regresshion - race condition in ssh allows rce/dos CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2003-00437 Off-by-one error in the fb_realpath() function, as derived from the realpath function in… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2003-00642 The prescan function in Sendmail 8.12.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2009-0641 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-0641 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5vvp-mjcx-6cg5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences