CVE-2021-3236Public exploit

Editor crash via missing window buffer dereference

Published Aug 11, 2023 · Updated Oct 10, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in ex_buffer_all in Vim 8.2.2348 allows local users to crash the editor through a crafted command script. A buffer-switching path involving autocommands can leave a window's w_buffer pointer unset, but ex_buffer_all dereferences that pointer while reading b_nwindows. A user must run the crafted script in Vim; successful exploitation terminates that editor process without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in ex_buffer_all in Vim 8.2.2348 allows local users to crash the editor through a crafted command script. A buffer-switching path involving autocommands can leave a window's w_buffer pointer unset, but ex_buffer_all dereferences that pointer while reading b_nwindows. A user must run the crafted script in Vim; successful exploitation terminates that editor process without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3236
Published
Aug 11, 2023
Updated
Oct 10, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 10, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo