CVE-2026-43943: Electerm Security Vulnerability Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q4p8-8j9m-8hxj
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-78 CWE-88
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-43943 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Electerm Security Vulnerability libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves rce via malicious ssh server filename in openfilewitheditor. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.7.9.

CVE-2026-43943 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-43943
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q4p8-8j9m-8hxj
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Electerm Security Vulnerability
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-43943

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Electerm Security Vulnerability dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

electerm fixed: 3.7.9 
npm install electerm@3.7.9
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls electerm

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-43943, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls electerm

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Electerm Security Vulnerability in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.7.9), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls electerm command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Electerm Security Vulnerability, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact A code execution (RCE) vulnerability exists in electerm's SFTP open with system editor or "Edit with custom editor" feature. When a user opts to edit a file using open with system editor or open with a custom editor, the filename is passed directly into a command line without sanitization. A malicious actor controlling the SSH server or user OS can exploit this by crafting a filename containing shell metacharacters. If a victim subsequently attempts to edit this file, the injected commands are executed on their machine with the user's privileges. This could allow the attacker to run arbitrary code, install malware, or move laterally within the network. <img width="1792" height="817" alt="1" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ddf78890-e95d-4fe7-981e-f86887677e8b" /> <img width="1648" height="941" alt="2" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cca2295b-2053-4d99-a464-be51eac2f5be" /> ### Patches Fixed in version >= 3.7.9 - https://github.com/electerm/electerm/commit/24ce7103e264cffe6eb5476c0506a2379e6f8333 ### Workarounds Until a patch is available, it is strongly recommended to: - Refrain from using the open with system editor or "Edit with custom editor" feature when connected to untrusted or unfamiliar SSH servers. - Consider using the built-in editor for viewing files, as this path may not be vulnerable to the same injection. - If the feature must be used, ensure connections are exclusively established with trusted servers and perform rigorous filename validation before editing. ### Resources - [electerm GitHub Repository](https://github.com/electerm/electerm)

CVE-2026-43943 Affected Electerm Security Vulnerability Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.7.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
electerm
npm/electerm
npm
< 3.7.9
3.7.9

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/electerm/electerm/security/advisories/GHSA-q4p8-8j9m-8hxj
NVD — CVE-2026-43943 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43943
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/electerm/electerm/commit/24ce7103e264cffe6eb5476c0506a2379e6f8333
Electerm Security Vulnerability Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electerm/electerm
Electerm Security Vulnerability Release RELEASE
https://github.com/electerm/electerm/releases/tag/v3.7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-43943?
CVE-2026-43943 is a security vulnerability in Electerm Security Vulnerability involving RCE via malicious SSH server filename in openFileWithEditor under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Electerm Security Vulnerability versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.7.9 across affected packages: electerm.
What version fixes CVE-2026-43943?
Upgrading to 3.7.9 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is electerm affected?
Yes, electerm is affected in releases prior to 3.7.9. Upgrade your dependency to 3.7.9 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-43943?
CVE-2026-43943 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-43943?
CVE-2026-43943 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-43943?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls electerm'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-q4p8-8j9m-8hxj",
  "modified" : "2026-05-08T18:43:52Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-08T18:43:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-43943" ],
  "summary" : "Electerm Security Vulnerability: RCE via malicious SSH server filename in openFileWithEditor",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nA code execution (RCE) vulnerability exists in electerm's SFTP open with system editor or \"Edit with custom editor\" feature. When a user opts to edit a file using open with system editor or open with a custom editor, the filename is passed directly into a command line without sanitization.\n\nA malicious actor controlling the SSH server or user OS can exploit this by crafting a filename containing shell metacharacters. If a victim subsequently attempts to edit this file, the injected commands are executed on their machine with the user's privileges. This could allow the attacker to run arbitrary code, install malware, or move laterally within the network.\n\n<img width=\"1792\" height=\"817\" alt=\"1\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ddf78890-e95d-4fe7-981e-f86887677e8b\" />\n<img width=\"1648\" height=\"941\" alt=\"2\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cca2295b-2053-4d99-a464-be51eac2f5be\" />\n\n### Patches\n\nFixed in version >= 3.7.9\n\n- https://github.com/electerm/electerm/commit/24ce7103e264cffe6eb5476c0506a2379e6f8333\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUntil a patch is available, it is strongly recommended to:  \n- Refrain from using the open with system editor  or \"Edit with custom editor\" feature when connected to untrusted or unfamiliar SSH servers.  \n- Consider using the built-in editor for viewing files, as this path may not be vulnerable to the same injection.  \n- If the feature must be used, ensure connections are exclusively established with trusted servers and perform rigorous filename validation before editing.\n\n### Resources\n\n- [electerm GitHub Repository](https://github.com/electerm/electerm)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "electerm"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.7.9"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.7.8"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electerm/electerm/security/advisories/GHSA-q4p8-8j9m-8hxj"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43943"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electerm/electerm/commit/24ce7103e264cffe6eb5476c0506a2379e6f8333"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electerm/electerm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electerm/electerm/releases/tag/v3.7.9"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78", "CWE-88" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-08T18:43:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-08T04:16:23Z"
  }
}