CVE-2023-48706
Low
No strong exploitation signal.
CVSS base
3.6
LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
EPSS — probability of exploitation (30 days)
0.5%
44.5th percentile
CISA KEV
Not listed
Weakness / dates
CWE-416
Published 2023-11-22 · modified 2026-09-17
CVSS breakdown
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
| Attack Vector | L | Local |
| Attack Complexity | H | High |
| Privileges Required | N | None |
| User Interaction | R | Required |
| Scope | U | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | N | None |
| Integrity | L | Low |
| Availability | L | Low |
Timeline
- 2023-11-22 — Published (NVD)
- 2026-09-17 — Last modified (NVD)
Description
Vim is a UNIX editor that, prior to version 9.0.2121, has a heap-use-after-free vulnerability. When executing a `:s` command for the very first time and using a sub-replace-special atom inside the substitution part, it is possible that the recursive `:s` call causes free-ing of memory which may later then be accessed by the initial `:s` command. The user must intentionally execute the payload and the whole process is a bit tricky to do since it seems to work only reliably for the very first :s command. It may also cause a crash of Vim. Version 9.0.2121 contains a fix for this issue.
Affected
References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/22/3
- exploit https://github.com/gandalf4a/crash_report/blob/main/vim/vim_huaf
- https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/26c11c56888d01e298cd8044caf860f3c26f57bb
- https://github.com/vim/vim/pull/13552
- exploit https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-c8qm-x72m-q53q
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DNMFS3IH74KEMMESOA3EOB6MZ56TWGFF/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IVA7K73WHQH4KVFDJQ7ELIUD2WK5ZT5E/
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240105-0001/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/22/3
- exploit https://github.com/gandalf4a/crash_report/blob/main/vim/vim_huaf
- https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/26c11c56888d01e298cd8044caf860f3c26f57bb
- https://github.com/vim/vim/pull/13552
- exploit https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-c8qm-x72m-q53q
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DNMFS3IH74KEMMESOA3EOB6MZ56TWGFF/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IVA7K73WHQH4KVFDJQ7ELIUD2WK5ZT5E/
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240105-0001/