Story
Even "cat readme.txt" is not safe
1 report
1 website
1 discussion
Latest report
Overview
Using iTerm2, executing the command "cat readme.txt" can lead to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability arises from iTerm2's legitimate features that inadvertently allow such exploits.
Summary from blog.calif.io.
Reports
One report so far. Additional coverage will appear here when it is linked to this story.
blog.calif.io
Even "cat readme.txt" is not safe
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Community reactions
Each reaction summarizes sampled comments from the linked discussion.
Hacker News · blog.calif.io
Hacker News discussion ↗
Historical count: 5 · 5 saved in sample · Historical sample
Analysis ready
Read this discussion’s reaction
Based on 5 sampled comments from this thread. Analyzed 2026-04-18.
- Praise: The discussion highlights the importance of understanding security vulnerabilities in terminal applications, emphasizing the need for competent engineering to mitigate risks.
- Praise: There is a recognition that traditional vulnerability disclosure practices may evolve as AI tools become more prevalent in identifying security flaws.
- Concern: The recurring nature of vulnerabilities in terminal applications suggests a systemic issue that hasn't been adequately addressed, raising concerns about the reliability of these tools.
- Concern: Disclosing vulnerabilities before they are patched could increase the risk of exploitation, indicating a potential oversight in responsible reporting practices.