CVE-2022-0408Public exploit

Crash via unbounded spell-suggestion trie depth

Published Jan 30, 2022 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Stack-based buffer overflow in Vim before 8.2.4247 allows local users to crash the editor by triggering crafted spell suggestions. In src/spellsuggest.c, suggest_trie_walk can increase its depth past MAXWLEN and then index fixed-size stack arrays beyond their bounds. Exploitation requires a user to open attacker-controlled content and request spelling suggestions; the resulting stack corruption can crash Vim or execute code in that user's context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Vim before 8.2.4247 allows local users to crash the editor by triggering crafted spell suggestions. In src/spellsuggest.c, suggest_trie_walk can increase its depth past MAXWLEN and then index fixed-size stack arrays beyond their bounds. Exploitation requires a user to open attacker-controlled content and request spelling suggestions; the resulting stack corruption can crash Vim or execute code in that user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0408
Published
Jan 30, 2022
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-121, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 30, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <8.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <8.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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