CVE-2026-44656

Shell command execution via backtick path expansion

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

OS command injection in Vim before 9.2.0435 allows attackers to run shell commands through crafted :find completion input. expand_in_path() passes backtick-bearing path entries to mch_expand_wildcards(), which constructs a shell command without blocking expansion. Modeline delivery requires modelines to be enabled and a release before 9.2.0350; otherwise, an attacker-influenced path setting and user-triggered completion are required.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.92%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Vim before 9.2.0435 allows attackers to run shell commands through crafted :find completion input. expand_in_path() passes backtick-bearing path entries to mch_expand_wildcards(), which constructs a shell command without blocking expansion. Modeline delivery requires modelines to be enabled and a release before 9.2.0350; otherwise, an attacker-influenced path setting and user-triggered completion are required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44656
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
Vim
Product
Vim
Classifications
CWE-78, T1204.002, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 8, 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=< 9.2.0435

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vim · Vimversion=< 9.2.0435

Published CVSS scores

4.6GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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