tracexec has `env` command argument injection via environment variables starting with dash in traced exec events
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77.
Summary
### Impact For tracexec's command line reconstruction feature, when a traced process executes another process with a environment variable where the key starts with a dash, tracexec incorrectly shows its commandline where such environment variables could cause argument injection for the `env` command. Such an injection is completely at the UI level unless the user tries to copy the command line with the injection and paste it into a terminal to execute it. A minimal POC is executing `env -- -a=b bash --norc` in tracexec's TUI mode. The resulting command line of `env` executing bash would be `env -a bash -a=b _=/usr/bin/env /usr/bin/bash --norc` in tracexec's TUI, which injects `-a=b` into `env`'s arguments. This has very limited effect for security. A local adversarial could leverage this to make tracexec show an inaccurate reconstructed commandline for their executed command. If the user of tracexec decides to copy and run the reconstructed commandline, there could be injection for `env`'s `--block-signal`, `--default-signal`, `--ignore-signal`, `--split-string`, `--unset`, `--chdir`, `--argv0` arguments. ### Patches The fix is https://github.com/kxxt/tracexec/pull/118. Users are advised to upgrade to 0.14.0. ### Workarounds Don't blindly paste and execute commands copied from tracexec that contains environment variable where the key starts with a dash.
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | tracexec (crates.io) | before 0.14.0 | 0.14.0 | Patch available | GHSA-6fgx-x7m2-74qm |
- tracexec (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 0.14.0 Fixed in 0.14.0 Patch available GHSA-6fgx-x7m2-74qm
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-6fgx-x7m2-74qm tracexec (crates.io) Fixed in 0.14.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-6fgx-x7m2-74qm
References
Sources
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