Crash via overflowing normal-mode z count
Published Nov 16, 2023 · Updated Jun 23, 2026
Integer overflow in Vim before 9.0.2109 allows local users to crash the editor by entering an excessively large normal-mode z count. The nv_z_get_count function multiplies the accumulated decimal count by 10 and adds each digit without first checking whether a long can hold the result. Exploitation requires interactive entry of the oversized count; the overflow only interrupts that Vim process and does not occur reliably.
Summary
What happened
Integer overflow in Vim before 9.0.2109 allows local users to crash the editor by entering an excessively large normal-mode z count. The nv_z_get_count function multiplies the accumulated decimal count by 10 and adds each digit without first checking whether a long can hold the result. Exploitation requires interactive entry of the oversized count; the overflow only interrupts that Vim process and does not occur reliably.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-48234
- Published
- Nov 16, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 23, 2026
- Vendor
- Vim
- Product
- Vim
- Classifications
- CWE-190
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=< 9.0.2109
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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