Vim
CVE-2019-12735
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 8.6 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local attacker with access to the system could execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source!. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Avoid passing user input to shell commands. Use language-specific APIs instead of shell execution. Apply strict input validation with allowlists.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as OS Command Injection (CWE-78), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host. getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source! command in a modeline, as demonstrated by execute in Vim, and assert_fails or nvim_input in Neovim. Affected products include: Vim, Neovim. Version information: before 8.1.1365.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source! command in a modeline, as demonstrated by execute in Vim, and assert_fails or nvim_input in Neovim.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Exploit-DB
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.0765. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vuln
Use of Out-of-range Pointer Offset in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4440. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this
Code execution vulnerability in Vim before 9.2.0272 allows attackers to gain immediate arbitrary command execution upon
vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploita
Use after free in append_command in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4895. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vu
Heap-based Buffer Overflow in function cmdline_erase_chars in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4899. Rated high se
vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability
Out-of-bounds Read in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no a
Buffer Over-read in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no aut