CVE-2023-48231Public exploit

Application crash via freed window dereference

Published Nov 16, 2023 · Updated Jun 23, 2026

Use-after-free in win_close() in Vim before 9.0.2106 allows local users to crash the editor by closing a crafted window. A window-closing autocommand can free the current window structure before win_close() sets its w_closing member, leaving win_close() to dereference stale memory. Triggering requires a local user to run crafted Vim commands and interact with the editor; upstream demonstrated only an application crash, not payload execution.

CVSS severity3.9
Low
EPSS probability0.67%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in win_close() in Vim before 9.0.2106 allows local users to crash the editor by closing a crafted window. A window-closing autocommand can free the current window structure before win_close() sets its w_closing member, leaving win_close() to dereference stale memory. Triggering requires a local user to run crafted Vim commands and interact with the editor; upstream demonstrated only an application crash, not payload execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-48231
Published
Nov 16, 2023
Updated
Jun 23, 2026
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 16, 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=< 9.0.2106

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=< 9.0.2106

Published CVSS scores

4.3NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
3.9GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002Malicious File

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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