CVE-2022-48337

Command execution via unquoted etags filenames

Published Feb 20, 2023 · Updated Mar 18, 2025

Command injection in GNU Emacs etags 28.2 and earlier allows local users to execute commands through crafted source-file names. The lib-src/etags.c implementation passes a constructed shell command to system() without quoting file-name arguments containing shell metacharacters. Exploitation requires a victim to invoke etags on attacker-influenced directory contents; injected commands run with that account's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in GNU Emacs etags 28.2 and earlier allows local users to execute commands through crafted source-file names. The lib-src/etags.c implementation passes a constructed shell command to system() without quoting file-name arguments containing shell metacharacters. Exploitation requires a victim to invoke etags on attacker-influenced directory contents; injected commands run with that account's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48337
Published
Feb 20, 2023
Updated
Mar 18, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 18, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

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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