CVE-2023-5535Public exploit

Crash via autocommand-triggered buffer use-after-free

Published Oct 11, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Use-after-free in Vim before 9.0.2010 allows local users to crash the editor by opening a crafted file that triggers buffer checks. The buf_contents_changed() routine rereads a file without blocking autocommands, which can wipe a buffer while the routine still uses it. Exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted file; the public regression case demonstrates process termination, while code execution is not established.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.54%
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 Vim before 9.0.2010 allows local users to crash the editor by opening a crafted file that triggers buffer checks. The buf_contents_changed() routine rereads a file without blocking autocommands, which can wipe a buffer while the routine still uses it. Exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted file; the public regression case demonstrates process termination, while code execution is not established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5535
Published
Oct 11, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 11, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <v9.0.2010

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=unspecified <v9.0.2010

Published CVSS scores

7.8Canonical UbuntuCVSS: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-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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