CVE-2019-20807

Local command execution via enabled scripting interfaces

Published May 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Command injection in Vim before 8.1.0881 allows local users to escape rvim restricted mode and execute arbitrary OS commands. Restricted-mode checks leave compiled Python, Ruby, Lua, and similar scripting interfaces enabled, allowing scripts to invoke operating-system functionality that rvim otherwise blocks. The user must already be able to run rvim and access an enabled scripting interface; commands execute with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Vim before 8.1.0881 allows local users to escape rvim restricted mode and execute arbitrary OS commands. Restricted-mode checks leave compiled Python, Ruby, Lua, and similar scripting interfaces enabled, allowing scripts to invoke operating-system functionality that rvim otherwise blocks. The user must already be able to run rvim and access an enabled scripting interface; commands execute with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-20807
Published
May 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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