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CVE-2009-4488

** DISPUTED ** Varnish 2.0.6 writes data to a log file without sanitizing non-printable...

5.0 MediumPublic exploitDisputed

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

13.0%Up 8.8 points since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

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 CriticalCVSS: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 CriticalCVSS: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 CriticalCVSS: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 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
5.0 MediumAV: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 CriticalCVSS: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 CriticalCVSS: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

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
varnish
Debian: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 less
7.5.0-27.5.0-37.6.0-17.6.0-27.6.1-17.6.1-27.7.0-17.7.0-27.7.0-37.7.1-17.7.2-17.7.2-27.7.3-17.7.3-27.7.3-3
None known
varnish
Debian: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
varnish
Ubuntu: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
varnish
Ubuntu: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.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
Exploit-DBVarnish 2.0.6 - 'Terminal Escape Sequence in Logs' Command Injection2010-01-11

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE 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

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