CVE-2022-1796Public exploit

Editor crash via stale define-search pointer

Published May 19, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Use-after-free in Vim before 8.2.4979 allows local users to crash the editor during an identifier-based define search. The do_window function retains a pointer into the current buffer line while find_pattern_in_path can flush that line and free its backing memory. The flaw requires local interaction with a buffer, and the publicly demonstrated consequence is an editor crash rather than a security-boundary compromise.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Vim before 8.2.4979 allows local users to crash the editor during an identifier-based define search. The do_window function retains a pointer into the current buffer line while find_pattern_in_path can flush that line and free its backing memory. The flaw requires local interaction with a buffer, and the publicly demonstrated consequence is an editor crash rather than a security-boundary compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-1796
Published
May 19, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 19, 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

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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 <8.2.4979

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <8.2.4979

Published CVSS scores

6.6huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV: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 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-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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