Vulnerability · Published Feb 10, 2023 · Assigned by GitHub_M
CVE-2023-24816set_term_title command injection in ipython
Medium 4.5
In plain English
A medium-severity improper input validation in ipython from ipython. Proof-of-concept exploit code is public. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 1.3% (higher than 71% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
IPython (Interactive Python) is a command shell for interactive computing in multiple programming languages, originally developed for the Python programming language. Versions prior to 8.1.0 are subject to a command injection vulnerability with very specific prerequisites. This vulnerability requires that the function `IPython.utils.terminal.set_term_title` be called on Windows in a Python environment where ctypes is not available. The dependency on `ctypes` in `IPython.utils._process_win32` prevents the vulnerable code from ever being reached in the ipython binary. However, as a library that could be used by another tool `set_term_title` could be called and hence introduce a vulnerability. Should an attacker get untrusted input to an instance of this function they would be able to inject shell commands as current process and limited to the scope of the current process. Users of ipython as a library are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should ensure that any calls to the `IPython.utils.terminal.set_term_title` function are done with trusted or filtered input.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | ipython | 8.10.0 | GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7 |
| PyPI | ipython | 8.10.0 | PYSEC-2023-17 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | ipython | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | ipython | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | ipython | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | ipython | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816 |
| Ubuntu:26.10 | ipython | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816 |
Affected products (as reported)
Weakness: CWE-20, CWE-78 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
References
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/security/advisories/GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/385d69325319a5972ee9b5983638e3617f21cb1f x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/3f0bf05f072a91b2a3042d23ce250e5e906183fd/IPython/utils/terminal.py#L103-L117 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/56e6925dfa50e2c7f4a6471547b8176275db7c25/IPython/utils/_process_win32.py#L20 x_refsource_MISC