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.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | ipython | < 8.10.0 | 8.10.0 |
References
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/3f0bf05f072a91b2a3042d23ce250e5e906183fd/IPython/utils/terminal.py#L103-L117
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/385d69325319a5972ee9b5983638e3617f21cb1f
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/security/advisories/GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/blob/56e6925dfa50e2c7f4a6471547b8176275db7c25/IPython/utils/_process_win32.py#L20
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-24816
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/991849c247fc208628879e7ca2923b3c218a5a75
- https://github.com/Carreau/ipython/blob/7557ade0ed927475d5ab5b573d0ea4febfb22683/docs/source/whatsnew/version8.rst#ipython-810
- https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ipython/PYSEC-2023-17.yaml
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20, CWE-78- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
ipython- Disclosed
- 10.02.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2023-17 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-29gw-9793-fvw7 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: ipython
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 8
- First → latest
- 08.2014 02.2023
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 3
- Medium 3
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 3
- 2018: 0
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 1
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
earlier: 3
-
IPython vulnerable to command injection via set_term_title this entry
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