CVE-2023-0288Public exploit

Editor crash via cursor underflow during folding

Published Jan 13, 2023 · Updated Apr 7, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Vim before 9.0.1189 allows local users to crash the editor by triggering the L command with folding enabled. The nv_scroll function lets hasFolding reset the cursor to the top line and then unconditionally decrements it to line zero, causing undo state to use line number minus one and access invalid heap memory. Reaching the flaw requires local interaction with a folded buffer; the demonstrated consequence is an editor crash, not a network service outage.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
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 9.0.1189 allows local users to crash the editor by triggering the L command with folding enabled. The nv_scroll function lets hasFolding reset the cursor to the top line and then unconditionally decrements it to line zero, causing undo state to use line number minus one and access invalid heap memory. Reaching the flaw requires local interaction with a folded buffer; the demonstrated consequence is an editor crash, not a network service outage.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0288
Published
Jan 13, 2023
Updated
Apr 7, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-122
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 7, 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 <9.0.1189

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.1189

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3[email protected]CVSS: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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow

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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