CVE-2022-46663Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Terminal hang via malformed OSC 8 sequence

Published Feb 7, 2023 · Updated Mar 25, 2025

Improper ANSI sequence filtering in GNU less 566 through 608 allows remote attackers to hang terminals through crafted input. The ansi_step state machine in line.c treats an ESC byte followed by a non-backslash character as an unfinished OSC 8 hyperlink instead of rejecting the malformed terminator, allowing terminal control bytes to pass through. The user must open attacker-controlled data with less -R; a malicious sequence can induce a terminal reply loop that repeatedly scrolls and echoes data.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper ANSI sequence filtering in GNU less 566 through 608 allows remote attackers to hang terminals through crafted input. The ansi_step state machine in line.c treats an ESC byte followed by a non-backslash character as an unfinished OSC 8 hyperlink instead of rejecting the malformed terminator, allowing terminal control bytes to pass through. The user must open attacker-controlled data with less -R; a malicious sequence can induce a terminal reply loop that repeatedly scrolls and echoes data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46663
Published
Feb 7, 2023
Updated
Mar 25, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 25, 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

7.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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