CVE-2008-2383: CRLF injection vulnerability in xterm allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via LF (aka

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HIGH 9.3DOWNGRADE

CVE-2008-2383 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 9.3) affecting xterm. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

CRLF injection vulnerability in xterm allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via LF (aka \n) characters surrounding a command name within a Device Control Request Status String (DECRQSS) escape sequence in a text file, a related issue to CVE-2003-0063 and CVE-2003-0071.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.3 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	4.9% (top 8%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2009-01-02
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: invisible-island

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2009-01-02 18:11 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:53 UTCUpdated Record last modified

invisible-island xterm DOWNGRADE

Affected: _nil_

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before _nil_

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xterm || rpm -q xterm || xterm --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before _nil_ (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison xterm sudo apt install xterm=<VERSION_BEFORE__nil_> sudo apt-mark hold xterm

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list xterm sudo dnf downgrade xterm-<VERSION_BEFORE__nil_> sudo dnf versionlock add xterm

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2008-2383?

xterm: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2008-2383 being exploited?

CVE-2008-2383 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2008-2383 affect?

CVE-2008-2383 affects xterm. Severity is high (CVSS 9.3). CRLF injection vulnerability in xterm allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via LF (aka \n) characters surrounding a command name within a Device Control Request Status String (DECRQSS) escape sequence in a text file,

How urgent is CVE-2008-2383?

Priority 56/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-40359 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE xterm before 380 supports ReGIS reporting for character-set names even if they have unexpected characters (i.e
CVE-2022-45063 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE xterm before 375 allows code execution via font ops, e.g., because an OSC 50 response may have Ctrl-g and ther
CVE-2022-24130 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE xterm through Patch 370, when Sixel support is enabled, allows attackers to trigger a buffer overflow in set_s
CVE-2021-27135 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE xterm before Patch #366 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (segmen
CVE-2007-2797 LOW 2.1 DOWNGRADE xterm, including 192-7.el4 in Red Hat Enterprise Linux and 208-3.1 in Debian GNU/Linux, sets the wrong group o

References

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