CVE-2022-45063: xterm before 375 allows code execution via font ops, e.g., because an OSC 50 response may have Ctrl-g and ther

Q: How do I fix CVE-2022-45063?

xterm: upgrade to 375; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2022-45063 being exploited?

CVE-2022-45063 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2022-45063 affect?

CVE-2022-45063 affects xterm, fedora. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). xterm before 375 allows code execution via font ops, e.g., because an OSC 50 response may have Ctrl-g and therefore lead to command execution within the vi line-editing mode of Zsh. NOTE: font ops are not allowed in the xterm default config

Q: How urgent is CVE-2022-45063?

Priority 67/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2022-45063 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting xterm, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

xterm before 375 allows code execution via font ops, e.g., because an OSC 50 response may have Ctrl-g and therefore lead to command execution within the vi line-editing mode of Zsh. NOTE: font ops are not allowed in the xterm default configurations of some Linux distributions.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	5.4% (top 7%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-77
Published	2022-11-10
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-11-10 16:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:09 UTCUpdated Record last modified

invisible-island xterm UPGRADE

Affected: < 375

Fixed in: 375

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 375 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade xterm

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade xterm

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 35 · 36 · 37

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 35

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

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-2022-45063?

xterm: upgrade to 375; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-45063 being exploited?

CVE-2022-45063 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-2022-45063 affect?

CVE-2022-45063 affects xterm, fedora. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). xterm before 375 allows code execution via font ops, e.g., because an OSC 50 response may have Ctrl-g and therefore lead to command execution within the vi line-editing mode of Zsh. NOTE: font ops are not allowed in the xterm default config

How urgent is CVE-2022-45063?

Priority 67/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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CVE-2008-2383 HIGH 9.3 DOWNGRADE CRLF injection vulnerability in xterm allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via LF (aka
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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