CVE-2022-23465 : What You Need to Know

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2022-23465, a vulnerability in SwiftTerm that could lead to arbitrary command execution.

Understanding CVE-2022-23465

This section delves into the nature of the CVE-2022-23465 vulnerability in SwiftTerm.

What is CVE-2022-23465?

SwiftTerm, a Xterm/VT100 Terminal emulator, was vulnerable to arbitrary command execution prior to the commit a94e6b24d24ce9680ad79884992e1dff8e150a31. An attacker could manipulate the window title through a specific character escape sequence, potentially allowing them to execute unauthorized commands.

The Impact of CVE-2022-23465

The exploit could enable threat actors to run arbitrary commands on a user's terminal by injecting commands through a crafted file containing the malicious sequence.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-23465

This section outlines the technical aspects of CVE-2022-23465.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in SwiftTerm stemmed from improper control over the generation of code, specifically related to code injection (CWE-94). The issue was addressed in version a94e6b24d24ce9680ad79884992e1dff8e150a31.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product was SwiftTerm by vendor migueldeicaza. Specifically, versions before commit a94e6b24d24ce9680ad79884992e1dff8e150a31 were vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

A threat actor could manipulate the window title using a certain character escape sequence, subsequently allowing the injection of arbitrary commands back into the user's terminal when interacting with a file containing the malicious sequence.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights on how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2022-23465 vulnerability in SwiftTerm.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users and administrators are strongly advised to update their SwiftTerm installations to version a94e6b24d24ce9680ad79884992e1dff8e150a31 or later to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enhancing user awareness about safe file handling practices and ensuring timely software updates can help mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Vendor-provided patches and updates are crucial for addressing security issues. It is recommended to stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches to secure systems.