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CVE-2015-8971 Debian CVE debrief

CVE-2015-8971 is a command-execution issue in Terminology 0.7.0. According to the NVD record, crafted escape sequences can alter the window title and then be written back to the terminal in a way that allows arbitrary command execution. The issue is rated HIGH by NVD and is tied to both the Terminology application and Debian Linux 8.0 package metadata in the CVE record.

Vendor
Debian
Product
Unknown
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-01-23
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-01-23
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Administrators and users of Enlightenment Terminology 0.7.0, especially Debian Linux 8.0 deployments or any environment that processes terminal content from less-trusted sources.

Technical summary

NVD maps this issue to CWE-77 and assigns CVSS 3.1 7.8 HIGH (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerable behavior is described as escape sequences that modify the window title and are later written to the terminal, which can lead to arbitrary command execution in affected Terminology 0.7.0 deployments.

Defensive priority

High. The vulnerability can result in command execution and carries a HIGH NVD severity score, so affected systems should be prioritized for patching or removal of exposure.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade Terminology to a version that includes the upstream fix referenced in the linked commit.
  • Apply the Debian security advisory remediation for affected Debian systems.
  • Inventory hosts running Terminology 0.7.0 or Debian Linux 8.0 packages that include the vulnerable component.
  • Restrict or review terminal content from untrusted sources until affected systems are patched.
  • Verify remediation by checking installed package versions and confirming the upstream fix is present.

Evidence notes

The official CVE and NVD records identify CVE-2015-8971, list CWE-77, and include vulnerable CPEs for enlightenment:terminology:0.7.0 and debian:debian_linux:8.0. References in the record point to Debian security advisory DSA-3712, oss-security discussions from November 2016, a SecurityFocus BID entry, and an upstream Terminology commit that serves as the patch reference. The advisory text describes remote attackers, while the NVD CVSS vector reflects local attack conditions; both are included here as recorded in the source corpus.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2015-8971 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-8971

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2015-8971 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8971

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.