The "crush bug" in Telegram typically refers to a variety of software vulnerabilities or "text bombs" that cause the application—and sometimes the entire device—to freeze, lag, or crash . These bugs often exploit how the app processes specific character strings, media files, or interface actions. Significant Telegram Crash Bugs (2024–2026) Recent reports highlight high-risk vulnerabilities and functional bugs that lead to application failure: "EvilVideo" Vulnerability (CVE-2024-7014) : Discovered in , this zero-day exploit allowed attackers to send malicious files disguised as videos on Telegram for Android. While it primarily aimed to install malware, it could lead to crashes if the system failed to handle the payload. A successor, EvilLoader , emerged in March 2025 , disguising files as videos to execute malicious code. Animated Sticker Zero-Click (2026) March 2026 , researchers identified a critical vulnerability where simply receiving an animated sticker could trigger remote code execution and potential device compromise on Android and Linux. Unicode "Text Bombs" : Like other messaging apps, Telegram has historically been susceptible to specific character strings (such as certain Telugu or Sindhi characters) that overload the rendering engine, causing immediate crashes when the message is viewed or pasted. Common Functional "Crush" Issues Many users report crashes triggered by specific app interactions rather than malicious attacks: Paste Crash : A recurring issue where pasting formatted text from apps like Apple Notes or ChatGPT causes Telegram to exit immediately. UI Interaction Bugs Right-Click/Long-Press : Clicking on certain messages in private groups or right-clicking on text inputs has been known to trigger segmentation faults. Emoji Hovering : In some desktop versions (e.g., v6.7), simply hovering over an emoji caused the app to close due to rendering regressions. Specific Characters : Typing specific letters (e.g., a capital 'O' in older versions) or accent characters can sometimes trigger a crash after the app has been open for a period. Telegram crashes when typing a capital letter O into any chat. #4259
The Telegram "Crush Bug": Understanding the 2026 Zero-Click Threat Recent reports in early 2026 have highlighted a critical security concern known colloquially among some users as a "crush bug" or, more accurately, a Zero-Click Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability . This specific flaw, tracked as ZDI-CAN-30207 , has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community due to its high severity and the unusual way it targets users. What is the "Crush Bug" in Telegram? While "crush bug" is often used broadly by users to describe any glitch that causes an app to crash ("crush"), the most significant 2026 threat involves a zero-click exploit . Unlike traditional phishing where you must click a link, this vulnerability triggers automatically when your device receives a specially crafted animated sticker . Vulnerability ID : ZDI-CAN-30207. Severity Score : 9.8 / 10 (Critical). How it works : The bug exploits Telegram’s rlottie library, which handles the rendering of animated stickers. When the app parses a malicious sticker to generate a preview, it can trigger a memory corruption that allows an attacker to execute code remotely. Affected Platforms and Risks As of April 2026, the primary platforms identified as vulnerable are: Telegram for Android Telegram for Linux The risks are severe. Because the attack is "zero-click," users can be compromised simply by being in a group where a malicious sticker is sent, or by receiving a direct message from an unknown sender. Attackers can potentially gain access to messages, session tokens, and personal media. The Ongoing Controversy There is currently a significant dispute between independent researchers and Telegram's official team: Researchers' View : Experts from Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) and CSIRT Italy have issued official alerts, confirming the vulnerability's existence and warning of its critical nature. Telegram’s Stance : Telegram has officially denied the existence of this specific zero-click flaw, claiming their server-side validation prevents such malicious files from ever reaching the end-user. How to Protect Your Account Until a definitive patch is confirmed and verified by third parties, security experts recommend several immediate steps: Restrict Direct Messages : Go to Settings > Privacy and Security and set "Messages" to "My Contacts" only to prevent unknown senders from sending malicious stickers. Disable Auto-Download (Partial Protection) : While some reports suggest the exploit triggers during preview parsing regardless of download settings, disabling Automatic Media Download in Data and Storage is still a recommended "best practice". Use Telegram Web : High-risk users are advised to temporarily use Telegram Web in a secure, updated browser, as the web version handles media parsing differently than the native Android/Linux apps. Update Frequently : Check the Google Play Store or App Store daily for updates, as security patches are often released without major announcements. For users experiencing standard "crashes" (not related to security exploits), clearing the app cache via Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage > Clear Cache often resolves common performance bugs. How to Fix Telegram App Crashing on Android & iPhone
The "Crush Bug" for Telegram is a playful, gamified interaction feature designed to let users "squash" minor UI glitches or simply blow off steam in a chat. It transforms the often-frustrating experience of finding a bug into a social, animated event. The Feature Concept: "Crush the Bug" Instead of just reporting a bug through a boring menu, users can trigger a "Bug Hunt" mode. When a user notices a glitch (or just wants to play), they long-press a message or UI element to "catch" a digital bug that appears on screen. Key Components The "Squish" Animation : When triggered, a small, cartoonish beetle or robotic bug scurries across the chat interface. Users must tap it to "crush" it, resulting in a satisfying haptic vibration and a tiny puff of digital smoke (or confetti). Social "Bug Fix" Competitions : In group chats, an admin can enable "Bug Infestation" mode. Random "bugs" appear for all members; the first person to tap/crush them earns a temporary "Chat Mechanic" badge or points on a group leaderboard. The "Bug Report" Integration : If a user is actually experiencing a technical issue, "crushing" the bug opens a simplified, pre-filled report screen. This turns a chore into a game, encouraging more users to help Telegram’s developers. Animated Stickers & Reactions : Introducing a "Bug" emoji ( ) that, when sent, briefly crawls across the recipient's screen until they tap it to make it disappear. Why It Works Engagement : It leverages Telegram’s existing love for high-quality animations and interactive emojis. Stress Relief : The physical act of "crushing" something provides a quick, satisfying micro-interaction. Community : It turns the typically solo experience of technical troubleshooting into a shared group activity. Example Interaction Trigger : You see a weird text overlap. You triple-tap the screen. Visual : A small red ladybug icon pops out from behind the "Send" button. Action : You tap the bug. Reward : A "CRUSHED!" banner appears with a link: "Actually found a real bug? Report it here for a 'Bug Hunter' badge!"
This recent bug specifically targeted Telegram Desktop (macOS and Windows). The Issue : The client crashes immediately when a user attempts to join a group via an invite link if that group has specific permission restrictions. Trigger : If a group has "Send messages" and "Send media" disabled for members, the client fails to handle the transition upon joining and crashes . Status : Reported on the official Telegram Desktop GitHub in early 2025. 2. Malformed Character "Text Bombs" Similar to the "Black Dot" or "Italian Flag" bugs on other messaging apps, Telegram has occasionally been vulnerable to specific strings of characters. The Issue : A message containing a massive amount of hidden formatting characters or right-to-left (RTL) override marks. Trigger : When the app attempts to render these complex Unicode characters within a message bubble or notification, the CPU usage spikes, leading to an application freeze or crash. History : Telegram generally patches these quickly, but "crash text" scripts are often circulated in "raiding" or "trolling" communities. 3. Desktop UI Interaction Bugs (Late 2024) A specific UI-related crash was documented where right-clicking in specific areas caused an immediate shutdown. The Issue : Crashing when right-clicking just above the message input line in channels with Subtopics . Impact : Users on Windows 10/11 reported that this pixel-perfect right-click triggered a fatal error in the interaction menu logic. 4. Media-Based Crashes The Issue : Specially crafted .GIF or .MP4 files designed to exploit the app's media previewer. Trigger : Often referred to as "crash videos," these files contain corrupted metadata that the Telegram "Stream" player cannot process, causing the app to quit the moment the user scrolls past the video in a chat. How to Fix/Avoid Crush Bugs Clear Cache : Often, a "crash loop" is caused by a corrupted local database. Go to Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage > Clear Entire Cache . Update the Client : Ensure you are on the latest version. Check the official Telegram Desktop releases or the Bugs and Suggestions page for known issues. Disable Auto-Download : To prevent "crash media" from triggering, disable Automatic Media Download in your settings. Are you experiencing a specific crash right now? If you let me know your operating system and what you were doing when it happened, I can help you find a specific fix. crush bug telegram
Guide: Finding and Reporting a Crash (bug) in Telegram 1. Reproduce the crash
Use the same environment : same device, OS version, Telegram app version (Settings > Help > About). Document steps : list the exact taps, messages, or actions that trigger the crash in order. Collect context : note whether you were online/offline, type of account (phone number, username, bot), size/type of file attached, and whether it was a group/channel/private chat.
2. Gather diagnostic info
App version and build (from Settings > Help > About). OS and version (e.g., Android 13, iOS 17, Windows 11, macOS Ventura). Device model . Exact timestamp of the crash. Error messages or crash dialogs (copy text or take screenshots). Log files : on Android use adb logcat; on desktop use the app’s debug logs (Settings > Help > Ask a Question / Show Logs) or check system crash reports. Reproducible sample : a minimal message, file, or bot action that causes the crash.
3. Isolate variables
Try with a different account or in a different chat. Try with mobile data vs Wi‑Fi. Disable plugins/themes/third‑party clients. Test on another device or platform (desktop vs mobile). The "crush bug" in Telegram typically refers to
4. Create a minimal reproduction case
Reduce steps to the smallest sequence that still crashes. If a specific file triggers it, try smaller/renamed/converted versions. If a message content triggers it, try variations (remove emojis, links, formatting).
