CVE-2022-4515

Arbitrary command execution via unsafe tag filename

Published Dec 20, 2022 · Updated Apr 14, 2025

OS command injection in all versions of Exuberant Ctags allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted tag filename. externalSortTags() in sort.c passes the -o tag filename to system(3) without safely neutralizing shell metacharacters. Execution requires the crafted filename to be supplied through the command line or a configuration file and occurs with the invoking user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in all versions of Exuberant Ctags allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted tag filename. externalSortTags() in sort.c passes the -o tag filename to system(3) without safely neutralizing shell metacharacters. Execution requires the crafted filename to be supplied through the command line or a configuration file and occurs with the invoking user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4515
Published
Dec 20, 2022
Updated
Apr 14, 2025
Vendor
Exuberant Ctags Project
Product
Exuberant Ctags
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 20, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 14, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=All versions are affected

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Exuberant Ctags Project · Exuberant Ctagsversion=All versions are affected

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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