Command execution via unescaped Visual-mode keyword lookup
Published Aug 11, 2026 · Updated Aug 11, 2026
OS command injection in Vim before 9.2.0839 allows attackers to execute commands through K on a crafted Visual-mode selection. The sh.vim, zsh.vim, and ps1.vim plugins interpolate the selection into shell commands without neutralizing metacharacters. Exploitation requires filetype plugins, a sh, bash, zsh, or PowerShell buffer, and a user who selects the crafted text and invokes K.
Summary
What happened
OS command injection in Vim before 9.2.0839 allows attackers to execute commands through K on a crafted Visual-mode selection. The sh.vim, zsh.vim, and ps1.vim plugins interpolate the selection into shell commands without neutralizing metacharacters. Exploitation requires filetype plugins, a sh, bash, zsh, or PowerShell buffer, and a user who selects the crafted text and invokes K.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-73077
- Published
- Aug 11, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 11, 2026
- Vendor
- Vim
- Product
- Vim
- Classifications
- CWE-78, T1059.004, T1059.001, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 11, 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.
- Affected versionversion=< 9.2.0839
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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