CVE-2022-1621

Code execution via unchecked spell word bytes

Published May 9, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 8.2.4919 allows remote attackers to crash or execute code via a specially crafted file. The spell-word path passes invalid UTF-8 bytes into vim_strncpy and find_word without validating the word, overrunning heap storage. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file; impact ranges from a Vim crash to possible arbitrary code execution in the editor process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.38%
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

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 8.2.4919 allows remote attackers to crash or execute code via a specially crafted file. The spell-word path passes invalid UTF-8 bytes into vim_strncpy and find_word without validating the word, overrunning heap storage. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file; impact ranges from a Vim crash to possible arbitrary code execution in the editor process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-1621
Published
May 9, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-122, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <8.2.4919

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <8.2.4919

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:H
6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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