CVE-2023-46321Network attack vector

Command execution via unsanitized man-page URL path

Published Oct 22, 2023 · Updated Sep 11, 2024

Command injection in iTerm2 before 3.5.0beta12 allows remote attackers to execute shell commands via a crafted x-man-page URL. In iTermSessionLauncher.m, profileByModifyingProfile:toShowManPage: interpolates the URL host and path into a /usr/bin/man command line without filtering shell metacharacters. The URL must be opened by the macOS URL handler, and injected commands run with the privileges of the iTerm2 user.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in iTerm2 before 3.5.0beta12 allows remote attackers to execute shell commands via a crafted x-man-page URL. In iTermSessionLauncher.m, profileByModifyingProfile:toShowManPage: interpolates the URL host and path into a /usr/bin/man command line without filtering shell metacharacters. The URL must be opened by the macOS URL handler, and injected commands run with the privileges of the iTerm2 user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46321
Published
Oct 22, 2023
Updated
Sep 11, 2024
Vendor
George Nachman
Product
iTerm2
Classifications
CWE-117, T1059.004, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 11, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

George Nachman · iTerm2version=0 <3.5

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-117Improper Output Neutralization for Logs
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell
T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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