CVE-2023-24816
set_term_title command injection in ipython
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
4.5
set_term_title command injection in ipython
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-24816- CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-0099
4.5
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.
- Record
EUVD-2023-0099- CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7
2.0
IPython vulnerable to command injection via set_term_title
IPython provides an interactive Python shell and Jupyter kernel to use Python interactively. Versions prior to 8.10.0 are vulnerable to command injection in the set_term_title function under specific conditions. This has been patched in version 8.10.0.
Impact
Users are only vulnerable when calling this function in 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 (making it effectively dead code). However, as a library that could be used by another tool, set_term_title could introduce a vulnerability for dependencies. Currently set_term_title is only called with (semi-)trusted input that contain the current working directory of the current IPython session. If an attacker can control directory names, and manage to get a user to cd into this directory, then the attacker can execute arbitrary commands contained in the folder names.
- Record
GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7- CVSS 4.0
- 2.0 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
4.5
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-24816- CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
4.5
set_term_title command injection in ipython
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-24816- CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7
2.0
IPython vulnerable to command injection via set_term_title
IPython provides an interactive Python shell and Jupyter kernel to use Python interactively. Versions prior to 8.10.0 are vulnerable to command injection in the set_term_title function under specific conditions. This has been patched in version 8.10.0.
Impact
Users are only vulnerable when calling this function in 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 (making it effectively dead code). However, as a library that could be used by another tool, set_term_title could introduce a vulnerability for dependencies. Currently set_term_title is only called with (semi-)trusted input that contain the current working directory of the current IPython session. If an attacker can control directory names, and manage to get a user to cd into this directory, then the attacker can execute arbitrary commands contained in the folder names.
- Record
GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7- CVSS 4.0
- 2.0 Low
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816
4.5
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.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-24816- CVSS 3.1
- 4.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2023-17 No score
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.
- Record
PYSEC-2023-17- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
ipythonPyPI |
before 8.10.0 | 8.10.0 |
ipythonPyPI |
before 8.10.0, plus listed versions 0.100.10.10.10.20.110.12 Show 45 moreShow less0.12.10.130.13.10.13.20.6.100.6.110.6.120.6.130.6.140.6.150.6.40.6.50.6.60.6.70.6.80.6.90.7.00.7.10.7.1.fix10.7.20.7.30.7.4.svn.r20100.8.00.8.10.8.20.8.30.8.40.90.9.11.0.01.1.01.2.01.2.12.0.02.1.02.2.02.3.02.3.12.4.02.4.13.0.03.1.03.2.03.2.13.2.2 |
8.10.0 |
ipythonUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.13.2-21.1.0-11.2.0~rc1-11.2.1-21.2.1-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.0-2ubuntu12.3.0-2ubuntu22.4.1-12.4.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.1.0-35.5.0-15.5.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.8.0-15.8.0-1build15.8.0-27.12.0-17.13.0-17.13.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 7.20.0-17.22.0-17.27.0-17.31.0-17.31.1-1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.14.0-28.20.0-1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.30.0-28.35.0-1 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 9.11.0-19.11.0-2 |
None known |
ipythonUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.35.0-18.35.0-28.35.0-39.8.0-49.11.0-1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-24816 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.5) in Ipython, published February 10, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.31%, the 70th percentile. Fixed in ipython 8.10.0.
References
github.com/ipython/ipython/security/advisories/GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7
github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/385d69325319a5972ee9b5983638e3617f21cb1f
github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/3f0bf05f072a91b2a3042d23ce250e5e906183fd/IPython/utils/terminal.py
github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/56e6925dfa50e2c7f4a6471547b8176275db7c25/IPython/utils/_process_win32.py
github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/991849c247fc208628879e7ca2923b3c218a5a75
github.com/Carreau/ipython/blob/7557ade0ed927475d5ab5b573d0ea4febfb22683/docs/source/whatsnew/version8.rst
Show 7 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-24816
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ipython/PYSEC-2023-17.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/24xxx/CVE-2023-24816.json
github.com/ipython/ipython
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-24816
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-24816
Left out here: 108 versions. The JSON record has them.