CVE-2022-3278Public exploit

Editor crash via sourced NUL-containing buffer

Published Sep 23, 2022 · Updated May 22, 2025

NULL-pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.0552 allows local users to crash the editor by sourcing a crafted buffer. The eval_next_non_blank function incorrectly requests another line when parsing reaches a newline in a NUL-containing sourced buffer, causing access beyond the buffer. Exploitation requires a user to source the crafted content, and the demonstrated consequence is termination of that editor process without supported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL-pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.0552 allows local users to crash the editor by sourcing a crafted buffer. The eval_next_non_blank function incorrectly requests another line when parsing reaches a newline in a NUL-containing sourced buffer, causing access beyond the buffer. Exploitation requires a user to source the crafted content, and the demonstrated consequence is termination of that editor process without supported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3278
Published
Sep 23, 2022
Updated
May 22, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-476, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 22, 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 <9.0.0552

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0552

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.8Protect AI (formerly huntr.dev) CNACVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L

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-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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