CVE-2023-46322Network attack vector

Command execution via SSH option injection

Published Oct 22, 2023 · Updated Sep 11, 2024

Improper hostname validation in iTerm2 before 3.5.0beta12 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted SSH URL. The validatedAndShellEscapedHostname method accepts a leading non-alphanumeric hostname character, allowing a leading hyphen to be interpreted as an ssh command-line option. Reachability requires iTerm2 to process the crafted SSH URL; successful option injection executes commands with the privileges of the logged-in macOS 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

Improper hostname validation in iTerm2 before 3.5.0beta12 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted SSH URL. The validatedAndShellEscapedHostname method accepts a leading non-alphanumeric hostname character, allowing a leading hyphen to be interpreted as an ssh command-line option. Reachability requires iTerm2 to process the crafted SSH URL; successful option injection executes commands with the privileges of the logged-in macOS user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46322
Published
Oct 22, 2023
Updated
Sep 11, 2024
Vendor
George Nachman
Product
iTerm2
Classifications
CWE-117, T1059.004
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

9.8NVDCVSS: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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-117Improper Output Neutralization for Logs
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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