CVE-2023-48706Public exploit

Editor crash via recursive substitution use-after-free

Published Nov 22, 2023 · Updated Jun 23, 2026

Heap use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.2121 allows local users to crash the editor by executing a crafted first :s command. In ex_substitute(), the outer call aliases old_sub; a recursive substitute expression frees and replaces that buffer before skipwhite reads the dangling pointer. Triggering the flaw requires intentional execution, a sub-replace-special atom, recursion during the first substitution command, and high-complexity conditions; the documented consequence is a process crash.

CVSS severity3.6
Low
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

Heap use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.2121 allows local users to crash the editor by executing a crafted first :s command. In ex_substitute(), the outer call aliases old_sub; a recursive substitute expression frees and replaces that buffer before skipwhite reads the dangling pointer. Triggering the flaw requires intentional execution, a sub-replace-special atom, recursion during the first substitution command, and high-complexity conditions; the documented consequence is a process crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-48706
Published
Nov 22, 2023
Updated
Jun 23, 2026
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 22, 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=< 9.0.2121

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=< 9.0.2121

Published CVSS scores

3.6GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
PrivilegesUnavailable
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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