CVE-2026-41253Public exploit

Code execution via forged SSH conductor messages

Published Apr 18, 2026 · Updated Apr 18, 2026

Code execution in iTerm2 3.6.9 and earlier allows local users to run commands by displaying crafted terminal-control data. The Conductor parser accepts forged DCS 2000p and OSC 135 messages outside a legitimate SSH integration session, then writes predictable base64 command chunks to the local shell. Execution requires the displayed data to drive the conductor state machine and an executable attacker-controlled pathname matching a generated chunk in the working directory.

CVSS severity6.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in iTerm2 3.6.9 and earlier allows local users to run commands by displaying crafted terminal-control data. The Conductor parser accepts forged DCS 2000p and OSC 135 messages outside a legitimate SSH integration session, then writes predictable base64 command chunks to the local shell. Execution requires the displayed data to drive the conductor state machine and an executable attacker-controlled pathname matching a generated chunk in the working directory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-41253
Published
Apr 18, 2026
Updated
Apr 18, 2026
Vendor
George Nachman
Product
iTerm2
Classifications
CWE-829, CAPEC-549, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 18, 2026Record 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 <=3.6.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

George Nachman · iTerm2version=0 <=3.6.9

Published CVSS scores

6.9MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-829Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
CAPEC-549Local Execution of Code
T1204.002Malicious File

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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