CVE-2022-2946Public exploit

Memory corruption via tagfunc-triggered buffer deletion

Published Aug 23, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.0246 allows local users to corrupt process memory by invoking a tag function that deletes its buffer. In do_tag() in src/tag.c, Vim retains a pointer to a tag-stack name while the configured tagfunc callback can wipe the buffer and free that storage. Triggering the flaw requires user interaction with a configured tag function; the stale-pointer access can crash Vim or corrupt its process memory.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.53%
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 9.0.0246 allows local users to corrupt process memory by invoking a tag function that deletes its buffer. In do_tag() in src/tag.c, Vim retains a pointer to a tag-stack name while the configured tagfunc callback can wipe the buffer and free that storage. Triggering the flaw requires user interaction with a configured tag function; the stale-pointer access can crash Vim or corrupt its process memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2946
Published
Aug 23, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 23, 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 <9.0.0246

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0246

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.

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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-416Use After Free

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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