CVE-2021-41088: Remote code execution via the web UI backend of Elvish

Severity: high (CVSS 8.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2021-09-23 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-668

Description

Elvish is a programming language and interactive shell, combined into one package. In versions prior to 0.14.0 Elvish's web UI backend (started by `elvish -web`) hosts an endpoint that allows executing the code sent from the web UI. The backend does not check the origin of requests correctly. As a result, if the user has the web UI backend open and visits a compromised or malicious website, the website can send arbitrary code to the endpoint in localhost. All Elvish releases from 0.14.0 onward no longer include the the web UI, although it is still possible for the user to build a version from source that includes the web UI. The issue can be patched for previous versions by removing the web UI (found in web, pkg/web or pkg/prog/web, depending on the exact version).

Affected products

elves elvish: before 0.14.0 — fixed in 0.14.0

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: elves elvish 0.14.0. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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