CVE-2022-41138Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Command execution via echoed DECRQSS payload

Published Sep 20, 2022 · Updated May 29, 2025

Code injection in Zutty before 0.13 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted terminal text. The DECRQSS handler in src/vterm.icc echoes an invalid request's attacker-controlled payload, including embedded newlines, to the pseudoterminal. Exploitation requires crafted text to reach a vulnerable Zutty instance; the echoed newline then submits the injected command to the user's shell with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Zutty before 0.13 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted terminal text. The DECRQSS handler in src/vterm.icc echoes an invalid request's attacker-controlled payload, including embedded newlines, to the pseudoterminal. Exploitation requires crafted text to reach a vulnerable Zutty instance; the echoed newline then submits the injected command to the user's shell with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-41138
Published
Sep 20, 2022
Updated
May 29, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 20, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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.

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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-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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