CVE-2022-3256Public exploit

Editor crash via invalidated jump-mark pointer

Published Sep 22, 2022 · Updated May 23, 2025

Use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.0530 allows attackers to crash the editor by inducing a user to open a crafted file. In src/mark.c, movemark() retains a pointer to a jump-list mark while buflist_getfile() can run a BufEnter autocommand that invalidates that mark, then dereferences it. Exploitation requires user interaction and an untrusted Vim script or crafted file; confirmed impact is an application crash, while memory corruption or code execution is not established.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
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 9.0.0530 allows attackers to crash the editor by inducing a user to open a crafted file. In src/mark.c, movemark() retains a pointer to a jump-list mark while buflist_getfile() can run a BufEnter autocommand that invalidates that mark, then dereferences it. Exploitation requires user interaction and an untrusted Vim script or crafted file; confirmed impact is an application crash, while memory corruption or code execution is not established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3256
Published
Sep 22, 2022
Updated
May 23, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 23, 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 <9.0.0530

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0530

Published CVSS scores

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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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

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Your stack

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