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Vim CVE-2016-1248

HIGH
Improper Input Validation (CWE-20)
2016-11-23 security@debian.org
RCE Debian Debian Linux Vim
7.8
CVSS 3.0 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-20
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
Impact

CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. EPSS exploitation probability: 15.94%.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.
Patch available 15.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

vim before patch 8.0.0056 does not properly validate values for the 'filetype', 'syntax' and 'keymap' options, which may result in the execution of arbitrary code if a file with a specially crafted. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Epss exploitation probability 15.9%.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20. vim before patch 8.0.0056 does not properly validate values for the 'filetype', 'syntax' and 'keymap' options, which may result in the execution of arbitrary code if a file with a specially crafted modeline is opened. Affected products include: Vim, Debian Debian Linux.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

vim before patch 8.0.0056 does not properly validate values for the 'filetype', 'syntax' and 'keymap' options, which may result in the execution of arbitrary code if a file with a specially crafted modeline is opened.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
15.9%
Top 5% exploitable
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org EPSS GitHub

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 15.9%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

55
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +16
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Remote Code Execution CRITICAL

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Use of Out-of-range Pointer Offset in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4440. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this

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getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via th
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Same weakness CWE-20 – Improper Input Validation

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CVE-2023-22515 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2009-0927 HIGH POC
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CVE-2017-9791 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2017-15944 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2019-0604 CRITICAL POC
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Same technique RCE

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CVE-2017-7269 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2012-4681 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2023-3519 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2015-5119 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2016-4117 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2015-3113 CRITICAL POC
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References

Advisories & patches
PATCH http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/22/20 PATCH https://anonscm.debian.org/cgit/pkg-vim/vim.git/tree/debian/changelog PATCH https://github.com/neovim/neovim/commit/4fad66fbe637818b6b3d6bc5d21923ba72795040 PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/d0b5138ba4bccff8a744c99836041ef6322ed39a PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.0056 REF http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2972.html REF http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3722 REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94478 REF http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037338 REF http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3139-1 REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2016/11/msg00025.html REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/2016/msg00305.html REF https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-29

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