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CVE Record

CVE-2015-9231: iTerm2 3.x before 3.1.1 allows remote attackers to discover passwords by reading DNS queries.

iTerm2 3.x before 3.1.1 allows remote attackers to discover passwords by reading DNS queries. A new (default) feature was added to iTerm2 version 3.0.0 (and unreleased 2.9.x versions such as 2.9.20150717) that resulted in a potential information disclosure. In an attempt to see whether the text under the cursor (or selected text) was a URL, the text would be sent as an unencrypted DNS query. This has the potential to result in passwords and other sensitive information being sent in cleartext without the user being aware.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

iTerm2 3.x before 3.1.1 could silently leak sensitive terminal text. Its URL-detection feature sent selected text, or text under the cursor, as cleartext DNS queries. If that text contained passwords or secrets, a DNS or network observer could learn them without user awareness.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted workstation data-leak issue, not a broad remote compromise. Prioritize developer, operations, and security staff systems because exposed secrets could create downstream access risk.

Technical view

A default feature added in iTerm2 3.0.0, and unreleased 2.9.x builds, checked whether terminal text was a URL by issuing DNS queries. Because the queried text was unencrypted, selected or cursor-adjacent terminal content could be disclosed outside the workstation. The CVE identifies iTerm2 3.x before 3.1.1 as affected.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on macOS systems running iTerm2 3.x before 3.1.1, especially developer or administrator workstations where terminal output may include credentials, tokens, hostnames, or command-line secrets.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show confirmed active exploitation, and KEV is false. The practical risk is passive or indirect disclosure through DNS logging, recursive resolvers, enterprise DNS monitoring, ISP infrastructure, or any party able to observe those DNS queries.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and referenced iTerm2 issue, wiki, and commit URLs. The bundle names the affected range and disclosure mechanism but does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit confirmation, or full vendor advisory text.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade iTerm2 to version 3.1.1 or later.
  • Check iTerm2 vendor guidance for any recommended configuration workarounds.
  • Rotate credentials that may have appeared in affected terminal sessions.
  • Review DNS logs for unexpected sensitive strings from affected hosts.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory macOS endpoints for iTerm2 versions below 3.1.1.
  • Confirm whether affected users handled passwords or tokens in terminal sessions.
  • Check DNS telemetry for sensitive-looking labels from developer workstations.
  • Verify upgraded clients no longer match the affected version range.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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