CVE-2022-2816Public exploit

Editor crash via argumentless script unlet

Published Aug 15, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds read in Vim before 9.0.0212 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the editor via an argumentless :unlet in a Vim9 script. The check_vim9_unlet function reads name[1] when name points to the line-ending NUL because it does not first reject an empty argument. A user must cause Vim to compile the crafted Vim9 script; the upstream patch demonstrates an invalid read, while Debian classifies the result as a CLI crash with no security impact.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.55%
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

Out-of-bounds read in Vim before 9.0.0212 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the editor via an argumentless :unlet in a Vim9 script. The check_vim9_unlet function reads name[1] when name points to the line-ending NUL because it does not first reject an empty argument. A user must cause Vim to compile the crafted Vim9 script; the upstream patch demonstrates an invalid read, while Debian classifies the result as a CLI crash with no security impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2816
Published
Aug 15, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-125, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 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 <9.0.0212

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0212

Published CVSS scores

7.8huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
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