CVE-2024-39331

Code execution via unsafe Org link expansion

Published Jun 23, 2024 · Updated Aug 22, 2024

Code injection in GNU Emacs before 29.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted Org Mode file. In lisp/ol.el, org-link-expand-abbrev interns a function named by a %(...) abbreviation and invokes it without first requiring that function to be safe. Exploitation requires user interaction with untrusted Org content or an email attachment, and the resulting code runs with the Emacs process's permissions.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in GNU Emacs before 29.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted Org Mode file. In lisp/ol.el, org-link-expand-abbrev interns a function named by a %(...) abbreviation and invokes it without first requiring that function to be safe. Exploitation requires user interaction with untrusted Org content or an email attachment, and the resulting code runs with the Emacs process's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-39331
Published
Jun 23, 2024
Updated
Aug 22, 2024
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Emacs
Classifications
CWE-94, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 23, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 22, 2024Record 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=0 <29.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Emacsversion=0 <29.4

Published CVSS scores

7.8SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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