CVE-2026-41253
highpriority · track · 31EPSS 0.002 · 10 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
In iTerm2 through 3.6.9, displaying a .txt file can cause code execution via DCS 2000p and OSC 135 data, if the working directory contains a malicious file whose name is valid output from the conductor encoding path, such as a pathname with an initial ace/c+ substring, aka "hypothetical in-band signaling abuse." This occurs because iTerm2 accepts the SSH conductor protocol from terminal output that does not originate from a legitimate conductor session.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.9–7.8
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (2)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (15)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-41253cnnvd
- https://blog.calif.io/p/mad-bugs-even-cat-readmetxt-is-notcnnvd
- https://github.com/gnachman/iTerm2/commit/a9e745993c2e2cbb30b884a16617cd5495899f86cnnvd
- https://iterm2.com/Patchcnnvd
- https://iterm2.com/downloads.htmlcnnvd
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47809190cnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41253cnnvd
- https://blog.calif.io/p/mad-bugs-even-cat-readmetxt-is-notenisa_euvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan