{"description":"Trending threats, MITRE ATT\u0026CK coverage, and detection metadata. Fed continuously.","feed_url":"https://feed.craftedsignal.io/tags/protocol-handler/","home_page_url":"https://feed.craftedsignal.io/","items":[{"_cs_actors":[],"_cs_cpes":[],"_cs_cves":[{"id":"CVE-2026-43944"}],"_cs_exploited":false,"_cs_has_poc":false,"_cs_poc_references":[],"_cs_products":["Electerm (\u003e= 3.0.6, \u003c 3.8.15)"],"_cs_severities":["critical"],"_cs_tags":["code-execution","protocol-handler","electerm"],"_cs_type":"advisory","_cs_vendors":["Electerm"],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eElecterm, a free and open-source terminal/ssh/sftp client, is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution. Versions 3.0.6 through 3.8.14 are susceptible to this vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious \u003ccode\u003eelecterm://\u003c/code\u003e URI or by crafting a shortcut/command that launches electerm with attacker-controlled \u003ccode\u003e--opts\u003c/code\u003e arguments. Successful exploitation requires a user to click the malicious link or open the malicious shortcut file. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim\u0026rsquo;s machine, potentially leading to system compromise, data theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability was reported by Curly-Haired-Baboon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"attack-chain\"\u003eAttack Chain\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe attacker crafts a malicious \u003ccode\u003eelecterm://\u003c/code\u003e URI or a shortcut/command containing malicious \u003ccode\u003e--opts\u003c/code\u003e arguments.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe attacker distributes the malicious URI or shortcut/command to the victim via social engineering or other means.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe victim clicks on the malicious \u003ccode\u003eelecterm://\u003c/code\u003e URI or opens the malicious shortcut/command.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElecterm is launched with the attacker-controlled parameters.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDue to insufficient validation of the input, the attacker\u0026rsquo;s payload is processed by Electerm.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe attacker\u0026rsquo;s payload executes arbitrary code on the victim\u0026rsquo;s machine.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe attacker gains control of the compromised system, enabling them to perform malicious activities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"impact\"\u003eImpact\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuccessful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution on the victim\u0026rsquo;s machine. This can result in a wide range of malicious activities, including but not limited to, system compromise, data theft, installation of malware, and denial of service. Given the nature of Electerm as a terminal client, attackers could potentially gain access to sensitive credentials and systems managed through the application.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"recommendation\"\u003eRecommendation\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpgrade Electerm to version 3.8.15 or later to patch CVE-2026-43944.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDisable or unregister electerm protocol handlers (Deep Link settings) as a workaround.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvoid clicking \u003ccode\u003eelecterm://\u003c/code\u003e links from untrusted sources.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRefrain from running electerm with untrusted \u003ccode\u003e--opts\u003c/code\u003e arguments or opening \u003ccode\u003e.lnk\u003c/code\u003e / \u003ccode\u003e.desktop\u003c/code\u003e files from untrusted sources.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeploy the Sigma rule \u0026ldquo;Detect Electerm URI Protocol Handler Abuse\u0026rdquo; to identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability by monitoring process execution that involves the electerm protocol.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n","date_modified":"2026-05-08T18:46:04Z","date_published":"2026-05-08T18:46:04Z","id":"/briefs/2024-05-electerm-code-exec/","summary":"Electerm versions 3.0.6 through 3.8.14 are vulnerable to arbitrary local code execution via crafted electerm:// URIs or command-line arguments, requiring a user to click a malicious link or open a malicious shortcut file.","title":"Electerm Arbitrary Code Execution via Crafted URI or CLI Arguments","url":"https://feed.craftedsignal.io/briefs/2024-05-electerm-code-exec/"},{"_cs_actors":[],"_cs_cpes":[],"_cs_cves":[{"cvss":9.6,"id":"CVE-2026-43941"}],"_cs_exploited":false,"_cs_has_poc":false,"_cs_poc_references":[],"_cs_products":["electerm (\u003c= 3.8.15)"],"_cs_severities":["high"],"_cs_tags":["rce","terminal","protocol handler"],"_cs_type":"advisory","_cs_vendors":["electerm"],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eElecterm, a cross-platform terminal application, is vulnerable to an arbitrary protocol execution vulnerability (CVE-2026-43941) in versions 3.8.15 and earlier. This flaw stems from the application\u0026rsquo;s failure to properly validate URLs passed to the \u003ccode\u003eshell.openExternal\u003c/code\u003e function. An attacker who can control terminal output, such as through a compromised SSH server or a malicious plugin, can inject a crafted URI into the terminal. If a user clicks on this malicious link, Electerm will execute it using the operating system\u0026rsquo;s default protocol handler, potentially leading to code execution, data exfiltration, or other malicious activities. This vulnerability requires user interaction (clicking the link) to be exploited.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"attack-chain\"\u003eAttack Chain\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttacker compromises a remote SSH server or injects malicious content into terminal output.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe attacker crafts a malicious URI containing a dangerous protocol handler like \u003ccode\u003ems-msdt:\u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003esearch-ms:\u003c/code\u003e, or \u003ccode\u003efile://\u003c/code\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe malicious URI is printed to the Electerm terminal connected to the compromised SSH server.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe victim, using Electerm, views the terminal output containing the malicious URI.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe victim clicks on the malicious URI hyperlink in the Electerm terminal.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElecterm\u0026rsquo;s \u003ccode\u003eshell.openExternal\u003c/code\u003e function executes the URI without proper validation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe operating system\u0026rsquo;s default protocol handler is invoked, executing the attacker\u0026rsquo;s payload (e.g., code execution via \u003ccode\u003ems-msdt:\u003c/code\u003e, NTLM hash leak via \u003ccode\u003efile://\u003c/code\u003e).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttacker achieves arbitrary code execution or exfiltrates sensitive information.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"impact\"\u003eImpact\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuccessful exploitation of this vulnerability (CVE-2026-43941) could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim\u0026rsquo;s machine. This could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, or the installation of malware. The vulnerability affects all Electerm users who interact with untrusted terminal outputs. The number of potential victims is dependent on Electerm\u0026rsquo;s user base. If successfully exploited, an attacker gains the privileges of the user running Electerm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"recommendation\"\u003eRecommendation\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeploy the Sigma rule \u0026ldquo;Detect Electerm Suspicious URI Invocation\u0026rdquo; to detect attempts to exploit CVE-2026-43941 by monitoring process creations with unusual protocol handlers (see rule definition below).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApply the workaround to disable hyperlink rendering in electerm\u0026rsquo;s terminal settings until a patch is available.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonitor the electerm GitHub releases and security page for an update addressing this issue.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n","date_modified":"2024-07-03T12:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-07-03T12:00:00Z","id":"/briefs/2024-07-electerm-rce/","summary":"Electerm versions 3.8.15 and earlier are vulnerable to arbitrary code execution due to improper validation of URLs, allowing attackers to execute commands by tricking users into clicking malicious links in the terminal.","title":"Electerm Arbitrary Protocol Execution Vulnerability","url":"https://feed.craftedsignal.io/briefs/2024-07-electerm-rce/"}],"language":"en","title":"CraftedSignal Threat Feed — Protocol-Handler","version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1"}