CVE-2023-27985Public exploit

Command execution via mailto URI shell expansion

Published Mar 9, 2023 · Updated Mar 5, 2025

OS command injection in GNU Emacs 28.1 through 28.2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands via a crafted mailto: URI. The Exec field in emacsclient-mail.desktop embeds the URI placeholder inside a shell command, allowing URI metacharacters to trigger shell expansion. Exploitation requires a desktop environment to invoke the entry for a mailto link and runs commands with the affected user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in GNU Emacs 28.1 through 28.2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands via a crafted mailto: URI. The Exec field in emacsclient-mail.desktop embeds the URI placeholder inside a shell command, allowing URI metacharacters to trigger shell expansion. Exploitation requires a desktop environment to invoke the entry for a mailto link and runs commands with the affected user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27985
Published
Mar 9, 2023
Updated
Mar 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1204.001, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 5, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA ADPCVSS: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.

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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-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1204.001Malicious Link
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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