CVE-2009-4488
** DISPUTED ** Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable...
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List
9.8
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
CVE-2009-4488- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-1284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2009-4455
9.8
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
EUVD-2009-4455- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-xm68-4v8h-h9rf
9.8
** DISPUTED ** Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable...
** DISPUTED ** Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely."
- Record
GHSA-xm68-4v8h-h9rf- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-1284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.8
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
CVE-2009-4488- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-1284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2009-4488
9.8
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2009-4488- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2009-4488
9.8
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2009-4488- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV No score
Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable characters, which might allow remote attackers to modify a window's title, or possibly execute arbitrary commands or overwrite files, via an HTTP request containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this report, stating that "This is not a security problem in Varnish or any other piece of software which writes a logfile. The real problem is the mistaken belief that you can cat(1) a random logfile to your terminal safely.
- Record
CVE-2009-4488- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
varnishDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 7.1.1-1.17.1.1-1.1+deb12u17.1.1-1.27.1.1-2+deb12u17.5.0-1 Show 15 moreShow less7.5.0-27.5.0-37.6.0-17.6.0-27.6.1-17.6.1-27.7.0-17.7.0-27.7.0-37.7.1-17.7.2-17.7.2-27.7.3-17.7.3-27.7.3-3 |
None known |
varnishDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 7.7.0-37.7.0-3+deb13u17.7.1-17.7.2-17.7.2-27.7.3-17.7.3-27.7.3-3 |
None known |
varnishUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.0.4-1ubuntu13.0.4-1ubuntu23.0.5-1ubuntu23.0.5-23.0.5-2ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
varnishUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.0.3-14.1.0-14.1.0-24.1.1-14.1.1-1ubuntu0.24.1.1-1ubuntu0.2+esm1 |
None known |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB | Varnish 2.0.6 - 'Terminal Escape Sequence in Logs' Command Injection | 2010-01-11 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2009-4488 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.0) in Varnish.projects.linpro Varnish, published January 13, 2010. Its validity is disputed. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 13.0%, the 96th percentile.
References
ush.it/team/ush/hack_httpd_escape/adv.txt
securityfocus.com/bid/37713
securityfocus.com/archive/1/508830/100/0/threaded
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-4488
github.com/advisories/GHSA-xm68-4v8h-h9rf
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2009-4488
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-4488
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-4488