CVE-2023-2609Public exploit

Editor crash via invalid register contents

Published May 9, 2023 · Updated Jun 23, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.1531 allows local users to crash the editor by running a crafted file in script mode. In get_register() in src/register.c, the copy path accepts a NULL y_current->y_array created by invalid register contents and dereferences it while copying the register. Execution requires user interaction with an untrusted script-input file; the supported consequence is termination of the Vim process, not data disclosure or code execution.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

NULL pointer dereference in Vim before 9.0.1531 allows local users to crash the editor by running a crafted file in script mode. In get_register() in src/register.c, the copy path accepts a NULL y_current->y_array created by invalid register contents and dereferences it while copying the register. Execution requires user interaction with an untrusted script-input file; the supported consequence is termination of the Vim process, not data disclosure or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-2609
Published
May 9, 2023
Updated
Jun 23, 2026
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 23, 2026Record 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 <9.0.1531

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <9.0.1531

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8huntr.devCVSS:3.0/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.

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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
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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