CVE-2022-4141Public exploit

Heap corruption via unlocked file switch

Published Nov 25, 2022 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim 9.0.0946 and earlier allows local users to corrupt heap memory through an expression substitute. During right-hand-side expression evaluation, CTRL-W gf can switch files while the current buffer is locked, but the command path fails to enforce the current-buffer lock before substitution resumes. Triggering the flaw requires user interaction with a substitute expression and can crash Vim or corrupt process memory in the editing user’s context.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim 9.0.0946 and earlier allows local users to corrupt heap memory through an expression substitute. During right-hand-side expression evaluation, CTRL-W gf can switch files while the current buffer is locked, but the command path fails to enforce the current-buffer lock before substitution resumes. Triggering the flaw requires user interaction with a substitute expression and can crash Vim or corrupt process memory in the editing user’s context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4141
Published
Nov 25, 2022
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 25, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 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 <9.0.0947

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.0947

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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