Process-memory corruption via recursive substitute expression
Published Jan 4, 2023 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Out-of-bounds write in Vim before 9.0.1145 allows local users to corrupt process memory through a recursive substitute expression. In src/eval.c, do_string_sub() treats a nonpositive vim_regsub() result as a substitution length and uses it in grow-array size arithmetic instead of stopping. Execution requires a user to run attacker-controlled Vim commands or a Vim script; the resulting memory corruption can crash Vim or alter data in its process.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds write in Vim before 9.0.1145 allows local users to corrupt process memory through a recursive substitute expression. In src/eval.c, do_string_sub() treats a nonpositive vim_regsub() result as a substitution length and uses it in grow-array size arithmetic instead of stopping. Execution requires a user to run attacker-controlled Vim commands or a Vim script; the resulting memory corruption can crash Vim or alter data in its process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-0054
- Published
- Jan 4, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Vim
- Product
- Vim
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <9.0.1145
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- Huntr recursive substitute-expression proof of conceptproof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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