CVE-2009-4488

CRITICALNVD 9.89.8—
EchelonGraph scoreMEDIUM confidence

Score 9.8 from GitHub Security Advisory published 2022-05-02. NVD baseline CVSS 9.8; sources differ by 0.0.

Triggered by: GitHub Security Advisory CVSS
Sources: epss, ghsa, nvd
Weaponized
9.8EG
EchelonGraph verdictPatch this weekExploitation is likely or a public exploit exists.
  • Public exploit code is available (Exploit-DB (verified), epss top5pct, public exploit)
CISA-KEV: Not listedEPSS PROB: 13%CVSS: 9.8Exploit: Exploit-DB (verified) · epss top5pct · public exploitExposed: 0

No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.

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.

CVSS v3
9.8
EG Score
9.8(medium)
EG Risk
85(Track)
EG Risk 85/100SSVC: Track

EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).

How it’s computed
Severity98% × 45%
Exploitation65% × 40%
Automatability100% × 15%
Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence.
EPSS PROB
13%
EPSS %ILE
96%
KEV
Not listed

Published

January 13, 2010

Last Modified

April 23, 2026

Advisory Details (3)

Auto-updated Aug 26, 2026
🔬 Proof of concept available. No patch confirmed yet.
generic🟡 PoC Available
http://www.ush.it/team/ush/hack_httpd_escape/adv.txt
generic

CVE-2009-4488 - PSIRT.COM

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37713
generic

SecurityFocus

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/508830/100/0/threaded

Affected Packages

(3 across 3 ecosystems)
Debian:11(1)
PackageVulnerable rangeFixed inDependents
varnish6.5.1-1 ... 7.7.3-3 (30 versions)——
Debian:12(1)
PackageVulnerable rangeFixed inDependents
varnish7.1.1-1.1 ... 7.7.3-3 (20 versions)——
Debian:13(1)
PackageVulnerable rangeFixed inDependents
varnish7.7.0-3 ... 7.7.3-3 (8 versions)——

Data Freshness Timeline

(refreshed 3× in last 7d / 13× in last 30d)

Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.

Showing the most recent 100 of 117 total refreshes for this CVE.

  1. 2026-08-26 14:40 UTCEPSS rescore
  2. 2026-08-26 10:43 UTCOSV refresh
  3. 2026-08-25 13:43 UTCEPSS rescore
  4. 2026-08-19 16:58 UTCEPSS rescore
  5. 2026-08-18 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  6. 2026-08-16 02:09 UTCEPSS rescore
  7. 2026-08-15 01:25 UTCEPSS rescore
  8. 2026-08-10 00:10 UTCOSV refresh
  9. 2026-08-07 16:21 UTCEPSS rescore
  10. 2026-08-06 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
  11. 2026-08-05 19:11 UTCEPSS rescore
  12. 2026-08-04 15:04 UTCEPSS rescore
  13. 2026-08-01 04:10 UTCEPSS rescore
  14. 2026-07-25 14:12 UTCEPSS rescore
  15. 2026-07-25 00:41 UTCOSV refresh
  16. 2026-07-23 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  17. 2026-07-23 01:00 UTCEG score recompute
  18. 2026-07-23 00:37 UTCEG score recompute
  19. 2026-07-23 00:05 UTCEG score recompute
  20. 2026-07-22 21:44 UTCEG score recompute
  21. 2026-07-22 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
  22. 2026-07-22 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
  23. 2026-07-21 15:20 UTCEPSS rescore
  24. 2026-07-20 17:03 UTCEPSS rescore
  25. 2026-07-19 02:25 UTCEPSS rescore
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  1. 2026-07-18 10:00 UTCEPSS rescore
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  3. 2026-07-15 16:54 UTCEPSS rescore
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  5. 2026-07-15 01:55 UTCEPSS rescore
  6. 2026-07-13 22:25 UTCEPSS rescore
  7. 2026-07-11 08:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  8. 2026-07-07 20:11 UTCOSV refresh
  9. 2026-07-06 02:19 UTCEPSS rescore
  10. 2026-07-06 02:19 UTCEPSS rescore
  11. 2026-07-05 02:26 UTCEPSS rescore
  12. 2026-07-02 14:01 UTCEPSS rescore
  13. 2026-07-01 15:02 UTCEPSS rescore
  14. 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
  15. 2026-06-28 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
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  18. 2026-06-27 03:05 UTCEPSS rescore
  19. 2026-06-25 13:46 UTCEPSS rescore
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  22. 2026-06-23 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
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  24. 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  25. 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  26. 2026-06-21 14:53 UTCEPSS rescore
  27. 2026-06-21 01:56 UTCEPSS rescore
  28. 2026-06-21 01:56 UTCEPSS rescore
  29. 2026-06-19 07:25 UTCOSV refresh
  30. 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  31. 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  32. 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  33. 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  34. 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  35. 2026-06-15 17:44 UTCEPSS rescore
  36. 2026-06-14 23:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  37. 2026-06-13 22:57 UTCEPSS rescore
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  40. 2026-06-12 23:08 UTCEPSS rescore
  41. 2026-06-12 23:08 UTCEPSS rescore
  42. 2026-06-11 13:56 UTCEPSS rescore
  43. 2026-06-10 22:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  44. 2026-06-10 13:17 UTCEPSS rescore
  45. 2026-06-08 14:13 UTCEPSS rescore
  46. 2026-06-07 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  47. 2026-06-07 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  48. 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
  49. 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
  50. 2026-06-05 06:07 UTCEPSS rescore
  51. 2026-06-05 06:07 UTCEPSS rescore
  52. 2026-06-04 13:09 UTCEPSS rescore
  53. 2026-06-04 13:09 UTCEPSS rescore
  54. 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
  55. 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
  56. 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  57. 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
  58. 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
  59. 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
  60. 2026-05-31 00:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  61. 2026-05-31 00:13 UTCEPSS rescore
  62. 2026-05-30 17:53 UTCOSV refresh
  63. 2026-05-29 13:40 UTCEPSS rescore
  64. 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  65. 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
  66. 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
  67. 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
  68. 2026-05-26 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
  69. 2026-05-26 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
  70. 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
  71. 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
  72. 2026-05-24 16:43 UTCEPSS rescore
  73. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  74. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
  75. 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore

Publicly available exploits

(1 reference)

Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Exploit-DB entry). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.

  • Exploit-DBEDB-33498✓ verified
    First seen Jan 11, 2010

    Varnish 2.0.6 - 'Terminal Escape Sequence in Logs' Command Injection

    Open source ↗

Frequently asked(5)

What is CVE-2009-4488?
CVE-2009-4488 is a critical vulnerability published on January 13, 2010. 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…
When was CVE-2009-4488 disclosed?
CVE-2009-4488 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on January 13, 2010, with the most recent update on April 23, 2026. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2009-4488 actively exploited?
CVE-2009-4488 is not currently on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. FIRST EPSS estimates a 13% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the top 4.0% of all scored CVEs.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2009-4488?
CVE-2009-4488 has a CVSS v3 base score of 9.8 (NVD).
How do I remediate CVE-2009-4488?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2009-4488, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.

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