CVE-2022-2304Public exploit

Editor crash via overlong spell-dump word

Published Jul 5, 2022 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Stack-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.0035 allows attackers to crash the editor when a crafted file triggers spell completion. The spell_dump_compl() routine walks a spell-tree word without stopping at MAXWLEN, causing an overlong word to write beyond a stack array. The path requires a user to open a crafted file and trigger spell completion; the demonstrated consequence is an editor crash, not established code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.45%
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 9.0.0035 allows attackers to crash the editor when a crafted file triggers spell completion. The spell_dump_compl() routine walks a spell-tree word without stopping at MAXWLEN, causing an overlong word to write beyond a stack array. The path requires a user to open a crafted file and trigger spell completion; the demonstrated consequence is an editor crash, not established code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2304
Published
Jul 5, 2022
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-121, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 5, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 2025Record 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 <9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0

Published CVSS scores

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

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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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