CVE-2022-3296Public exploit

Editor crash via unchecked finally stack search

Published Sep 25, 2022 · Updated May 22, 2025

Stack-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.0577 allows attackers to crash the editor after a user opens a crafted file. The ex_finally() handler in src/ex_eval.c searches backward through the conditional-stack array for CSF_TRY without first confirming that such an entry exists. User interaction is required, and the resulting underflow corrupts stack memory and interrupts the local editing process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.0577 allows attackers to crash the editor after a user opens a crafted file. The ex_finally() handler in src/ex_eval.c searches backward through the conditional-stack array for CSF_TRY without first confirming that such an entry exists. User interaction is required, and the resulting underflow corrupts stack memory and interrupts the local editing process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3296
Published
Sep 25, 2022
Updated
May 22, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-121, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 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 <9.0.0577

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0577

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.

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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-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-121Stack-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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