CVE-2023-5441Public exploit

Editor crash via Ex-mode scrollbar redraw

Published Oct 5, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Vim before patch 9.0.1992 allows local users to crash the editor through crafted Ex-mode input. In gui_do_scroll(), a vertical-scrollbar key can request a redraw while Ex mode is active, when LineOffset and related state are invalid. The trigger requires Vim to process the crafted input locally; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, not data access or code execution.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.43%
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 patch 9.0.1992 allows local users to crash the editor through crafted Ex-mode input. In gui_do_scroll(), a vertical-scrollbar key can request a redraw while Ex mode is active, when LineOffset and related state are invalid. The trigger requires Vim to process the crafted input locally; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, not data access or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5441
Published
Oct 5, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 5, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <20d161ace307e28690229b68584f2d84556f8960

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <20d161ace307e28690229b68584f2d84556f8960

Published CVSS scores

2.9Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
6.2huntr.devCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference

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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