CVE-2022-3591

Local memory corruption via dummy-buffer navigation

Published Dec 2, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.0789 allows local users to trigger memory corruption by opening a crafted file. Vim's do_buffer_ext navigation and split path accepted a dummy buffer and later used freed state; patch 9.0.0789 rejects dummy-buffer navigation. Exploitation requires user interaction to open crafted content and can crash or compromise the editor process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.39%
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 9.0.0789 allows local users to trigger memory corruption by opening a crafted file. Vim's do_buffer_ext navigation and split path accepted a dummy buffer and later used freed state; patch 9.0.0789 rejects dummy-buffer navigation. Exploitation requires user interaction to open crafted content and can crash or compromise the editor process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3591
Published
Dec 2, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 2, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 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 <9.0.0789

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0789

Published CVSS scores

7.8huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS: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.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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