CVE-2023-46300 in iTerm2
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
iTerm2 before 3.4.20 allow (potentially remote) code execution because of mishandling of certain escape sequences related to tmux integration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46300 affects iTerm2 terminal emulator versions prior to 3.4.20 and represents a critical code execution flaw stemming from improper handling of escape sequences within the tmux integration functionality. This issue enables potentially remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through carefully crafted escape sequences that are processed during tmux session interactions. The vulnerability specifically targets the way iTerm2 parses and interprets terminal escape sequences, particularly those used for tmux integration, creating a pathway for malicious code injection that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation and processing of escape sequences that occur when iTerm2 communicates with tmux sessions. When tmux integration is enabled, iTerm2 processes escape sequences that contain control codes and special character combinations used for terminal communication and session management. The vulnerability arises because the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate these sequences before processing them, allowing attackers to inject malicious escape codes that can trigger unintended behavior. This misconfiguration creates a code execution vector where attacker-controlled escape sequences can be interpreted as legitimate terminal commands, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios. Since iTerm2 is commonly used across development environments and system administration tasks, an attacker who can successfully exploit this vulnerability gains the ability to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the user running iTerm2. This could lead to data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The remote aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where iTerm2 is used for remote administration or development work. The flaw affects systems where tmux integration is enabled, which is common in professional development and administrative environments where terminal multiplexing is frequently utilized.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46300 center on immediate software updates to iTerm2 version 3.4.20 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the escape sequence handling flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running iTerm2, particularly those with tmux integration enabled. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual terminal activity and escape sequence patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider temporarily disabling tmux integration features until the software update is deployed. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited access scope, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on terminal shell commands. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for robust escape sequence handling in terminal applications, particularly those with integration capabilities that extend beyond simple terminal emulation.