CVE-2010-2074: istream.c in w3m 0.5.2 and possibly other versions, when ssl_verify_server is enabled, does not properly ha...

Security readout for executives and security teams

w3m, a text-mode web browser, could accept a fraudulent HTTPS certificate even when server verification is enabled. A certificate containing a null byte in the name could make w3m believe it was visiting a different secure site. This matters mainly for legacy systems or automation that still use w3m for HTTPS access. Exposure is most likely on older Linux or Unix environments with w3m installed and used for HTTPS browsing, scripts, documentation viewers, or automation. The source bundle names w3m 0.5.2 and possibly other versions, but does not provide a complete affected-version matrix. Prioritize remediation where w3m is used to access internal portals, credentials, package sources, or administrative HTTPS endpoints. Broad enterprise urgency is lower if w3m is absent or unused, but legacy estates should be checked because the flaw undermines a core TLS trust control. Mitigation focus: Update w3m through the relevant operating system vendor package channel.; Review Red Hat, Fedora, and SUSE advisories for fixed package availability.; Avoid using affected w3m builds for sensitive HTTPS workflows until remediated..

Prepared

Jun 28, 2026, 02:01 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.