CVE-2026-43961Public exploit

Code execution via filename injection in netrw

Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026

Code injection in Vim netrw before 9.2.0480 allows attackers to execute arbitrary Vimscript via a crafted filename in a browsed directory. In s:NetrwMarkFile(), unmarking an entry concatenates the derived path into a quoted filter() expression, so a double quote in the filename ends the literal early and injects Vimscript that filter() evaluates. Exploitation requires a local attacker to plant the filename on a Unix-like filesystem and a victim to browse that directory with netrw and press mf twice on the same entry, after which injected Vimscript can invoke shell commands as the Vim user.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
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 Vim netrw before 9.2.0480 allows attackers to execute arbitrary Vimscript via a crafted filename in a browsed directory. In s:NetrwMarkFile(), unmarking an entry concatenates the derived path into a quoted filter() expression, so a double quote in the filename ends the literal early and injects Vimscript that filter() evaluates. Exploitation requires a local attacker to plant the filename on a Unix-like filesystem and a victim to browse that directory with netrw and press mf twice on the same entry, after which injected Vimscript can invoke shell commands as the Vim user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43961
Published
Aug 19, 2026
Updated
Aug 19, 2026
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-94, CWE-74, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 19, 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=0 <9.2.0480

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=0 <9.2.0480

Published CVSS scores

4.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
7.8Red HatCVSS: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-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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