CVE-2022-2849Public exploit

Editor crash via null-string loop iteration

Published Aug 17, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.0220 allows local users to crash or corrupt the editor through a crafted Vim script. The for-loop evaluator calls mb_ptr2len() on a NUL string, while its Latin and DBCS implementations return one instead of zero and advance iteration beyond the allocation. Exploitation requires a user to run an untrusted script that iterates over a null string, producing invalid memory access in the editor process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.0220 allows local users to crash or corrupt the editor through a crafted Vim script. The for-loop evaluator calls mb_ptr2len() on a NUL string, while its Latin and DBCS implementations return one instead of zero and advance iteration beyond the allocation. Exploitation requires a user to run an untrusted script that iterates over a null string, producing invalid memory access in the editor process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2849
Published
Aug 17, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-122, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 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 <9.0.0220

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0220

Published CVSS scores

7.8Protect AICVSS: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.

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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-122Heap-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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