CVE-2021-41146Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary code execution via URL argument injection

Published Oct 21, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Argument injection in qutebrowser 1.7.0 through 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows via a crafted handler URL. The Windows installer registers URL schemes with the untrusted URL placed directly in the command line, so embedded quotes can create a qutebrowser command such as :spawn. A user must open the URL through an application that does not escape quotes, and qutebrowser must remain registered as a URL handler.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Argument injection in qutebrowser 1.7.0 through 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows via a crafted handler URL. The Windows installer registers URL schemes with the untrusted URL placed directly in the command line, so embedded quotes can create a qutebrowser command such as :spawn. A user must open the URL through an application that does not escape quotes, and qutebrowser must remain registered as a URL handler.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41146
Published
Oct 21, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
qutebrowser
Product
qutebrowser
Classifications
CWE-88, CWE-77, CWE-641, T1204.001, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 21, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 1.7.0, < 2.4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

qutebrowser · qutebrowserversion=>= 1.7.0, < 2.4.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-88Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-641Improper Restriction of Names for Files and Other Resources
T1204.001Malicious Link
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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