CVE-2023-0051Public exploit

Application crash via unbounded string-length read

Published Jan 4, 2023 · Updated Apr 9, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.1144 allows local users to crash the editor by processing crafted multibyte text. The msg_puts_printf function calls an unbounded string-length routine on a maxlen-limited buffer that is not guaranteed to contain a terminating NUL, causing an out-of-bounds heap read. Exploitation requires user interaction to process attacker-supplied text; the documented consequence is an application crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.52%
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 before 9.0.1144 allows local users to crash the editor by processing crafted multibyte text. The msg_puts_printf function calls an unbounded string-length routine on a maxlen-limited buffer that is not guaranteed to contain a terminating NUL, causing an out-of-bounds heap read. Exploitation requires user interaction to process attacker-supplied text; the documented consequence is an application crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0051
Published
Jan 4, 2023
Updated
Apr 9, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-122, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 9, 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 <9.0.1144

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.1144

Published CVSS scores

7.3huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-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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