CVE-2023-1355Public exploit

Editor crash via null_class member access

Published Mar 11, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.1402 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the editor through a crafted Vim9 script. The class_object_index function continues member lookup with a NULL class pointer when null_class.member is evaluated instead of rejecting the incomplete type. Exploitation requires execution of attacker-controlled Vim9 script code, and the demonstrated consequence is interruption of that editor process.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.1402 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the editor through a crafted Vim9 script. The class_object_index function continues member lookup with a NULL class pointer when null_class.member is evaluated instead of rejecting the incomplete type. Exploitation requires execution of attacker-controlled Vim9 script code, and the demonstrated consequence is interruption of that editor process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1355
Published
Mar 11, 2023
Updated
Feb 27, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-476, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 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 <9.0.1402

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.1402

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
8.4huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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