CVE-2003-0023: Medium severity rxvt rxvt vulnerability

Published Mar 3, 2003
·
Updated

The menuBar feature in rxvt 2.7.8 allows attackers to modify menu options and execute arbitrary commands via a certain character escape sequence that inserts the commands into the menu.

Affected Software

8 affected components
rxvt rxvt=2.6.1
rxvt rxvt=2.6.2
rxvt rxvt=2.6.3
rxvt rxvt=2.6.4
rxvt rxvt=2.7.5
rxvt rxvt=2.7.6
rxvt rxvt=2.7.7
rxvt rxvt=2.7.8

Event History

Mar 3, 2003
CVE Published
05:00 AM
Data Sourced
via NVD·05:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 1, 2004
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:00 AM
Description
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2003-0023?

CVE-2003-0023 is considered to have a high severity due to the ability for attackers to execute arbitrary commands.

2

How do I fix CVE-2003-0023?

To fix CVE-2003-0023, users should upgrade to a version of rxvt that is not vulnerable, such as 2.7.9 or higher.

3

What versions of rxvt are affected by CVE-2003-0023?

CVE-2003-0023 affects rxvt versions 2.6.1 through 2.7.8.

4

What is the impact of exploiting CVE-2003-0023?

Exploiting CVE-2003-0023 can allow an attacker to modify menu options and execute untrusted commands on the victim's system.

5

Is CVE-2003-0023 still a concern today?

While CVE-2003-0023 is an older vulnerability, systems running the affected versions of rxvt can still be a concern if not updated.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203