Description
App::Ack versions through 3.10.0 for Perl print unsanitised terminal escape sequences from filenames in several output modes. When ack prints a filename whose basename contains terminal control bytes such as ANSI escape sequences, those bytes reach the terminal unchanged. Version 3.10.0 added a _safe_filename helper that sanitises the filenames printed by -f, -g, the colored match heading, and per-match lines, but the --show-types, -l/-L, and -c paths still emit the raw filename. A file whose name embeds cursor-movement or color escapes can overwrite or recolor earlier terminal output, or be passed unchanged to a downstream consumer.
Problem types
CWE-150 Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences
Product status
Any version
Timeline
| 2026-06-07: | Version 3.10.0 released with partial fix for most output paths. |
Credits
Michał Majchrowicz (AFINE)
Marcin Wyczechowski (AFINE)
References
metacpan.org/release/PETDANCE/ack-v3.10.0/source/Changes