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Vim CVE-2026-26269

MEDIUM
Stack-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-121)
2026-02-13 security-advisories@github.com
Buffer Overflow Red Hat Vim Suse
5.4
CVSS 3.1 · GitHub Advisory
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-121
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Stack buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Impact

CVSS 5.4 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: Required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Stack buffer overflow in Vim's NetBeans integration allows a malicious NetBeans server to corrupt memory and potentially crash the editor or execute arbitrary code through a specially crafted specialKeys command. The vulnerability affects Vim builds with NetBeans support enabled and requires user interaction to connect to a compromised server. A patch is available in Vim version 9.1.2148 and later.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 22:02 CVSS 5.4

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to 9.1.2148, a stack buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Vim's NetBeans integration when processing the specialKeys command, affecting Vim builds that enable and use the NetBeans feature. [CVSS 5.4 MEDIUM]

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available — apply it immediately. Enable ASLR, DEP/NX, and stack canaries where possible. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow). Affects Vim. Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to 9.1.2148, a stack buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Vim's NetBeans integration when processing the specialKeys command, affecting Vim builds that enable and use the NetBeans feature. The Stack buffer overflow exists in special_keys() (in src/netbeans.c). The while (*tok) loop writes two bytes per iteration into a 64-byte stack buffer (keybuf) with no bounds check. A malicious NetBeans server can overflow keybuf with a single special

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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 5.4 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
SUSE MEDIUM
Red Hat 7.5 LOW

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch released
Feb 18, 2026 - 21:29 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Feb 13, 2026 - 20:17 nvd
MEDIUM 5.4

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to 9.1.2148, a stack buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Vim's NetBeans integration when processing the specialKeys command, affecting Vim builds that enable and use the NetBeans feature. The Stack buffer overflow exists in special_keys() (in src/netbeans.c). The while (*tok) loop writes two bytes per iteration into a 64-byte stack buffer (keybuf) with no bounds check. A malicious NetBeans server can overflow keybuf with a single specialKeys command. The issue has been fixed as of Vim patch v9.1.2148.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using Vim should be aware of moderate risk from CVE-2026-26269, a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability rated CVSS 5.4. Exploitation could cause memory corruption or application crashes. A patch is available and should be applied during regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Low
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: enable ASLR/DEP, apply network segmentation.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 89% exploitable
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org EPSS Vendor GitHub VulDB

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 MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
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
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Low

Priority Score

27
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +27
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Buffer Overflow HIGH

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More in Vim

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Same weakness CWE-121 – Stack-based Buffer Overflow

View all
CVE-2025-0282 CRITICAL POC
9.0
CVE-2025-22457 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2012-10060 CRITICAL POC
9.3
CVE-2012-10053 CRITICAL POC
9.3
CVE-2013-10064 CRITICAL POC
9.3
CVE-2012-10023 MEDIUM POC
6.9
CVE-2012-10058 CRITICAL POC
10.0
CVE-2013-10068 CRITICAL POC
9.4

Same technique Buffer Overflow

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CVE-2017-7269 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2015-5119 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2015-3113 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2011-2462 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2020-0796 CRITICAL POC
10.0
CVE-2019-11043 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2009-0927 HIGH POC
8.8
CVE-2012-1889 HIGH POC
8.8

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Medium
Product Status
Container rancher/elemental-channel/sl-micro:6.0-baremetal Container rancher/elemental-channel/sl-micro:6.0-base Container rancher/elemental-channel/sl-micro:6.0-kvm Container rancher/elemental-channel/sl-micro:6.0-rt Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/baremetal-iso-image:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/base-iso-image:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/kvm-iso-image:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/rt-iso-image:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/baremetal-iso-image:2.2.1-5.70 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/base-iso-image:2.2.1-5.86 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/kvm-iso-image:2.2.1-5.97 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/rt-iso-image:2.2.1-5.74 Affected
Container suse/manager/5.0/x86_64/server:latest Image SLES15-SP5-SAP-Azure-LI-BYOS Image SLES15-SP5-SAP-Azure-LI-BYOS-Production Image SLES15-SP5-SAP-Azure-VLI-BYOS Image SLES15-SP5-SAP-Azure-VLI-BYOS-Production Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-Aliyun Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-Azure Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-EC2 Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-GCE Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-GDC Image SLES15-SP7-CHOST-BYOS-SAP-CCloud Image SLES15-SP7-SAP-Azure-LI-BYOS-Production Image SLES15-SP7-SAP-Azure-VLI-BYOS-Production Image SLES15-SP7-SAP-EC2 Affected
Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/baremetal-os-container:2.1.3-6.137 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/baremetal-os-container:2.2.1-7.74 Image SUSE-Multi-Linux-Manager-Proxy-BYOS-EC2 Image SUSE-Multi-Linux-Manager-Server-Azure-ltd Image SUSE-Multi-Linux-Manager-Server-BYOS-EC2 Affected
Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/base-os-container:latest Image SL-Micro Affected
Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/kvm-os-container:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.0/rt-os-container:latest Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/base-os-container:2.2.1-5.82 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/kvm-os-container:2.2.1-5.86 Container suse/sl-micro/6.1/rt-os-container:2.2.1-5.74 Image SL-Micro-Base Image SL-Micro-Base-RT Image SL-Micro-Base-RT-SelfInstall Image SL-Micro-Base-RT-encrypted Image SL-Micro-Base-SelfInstall Image SL-Micro-Base-encrypted Image SL-Micro-Base-qcow Image SL-Micro-Default Image SL-Micro-Default-SelfInstall Image SL-Micro-Default-encrypted Image SL-Micro-Default-qcow Image SL-Micro-EC2 Image SUSE-Multi-Linux-Manager-Server-EC2-llc Image SUSE-Multi-Linux-Manager-Server-EC2-ltd Affected

References

Advisories & patches
PATCH http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/02/13/2 PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/c5f312aad8e4179e437f81ad39a860cd0ef11970 PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-9w5c-hwr9-hc68 ADVISORY https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8101-1 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/?id.345945 ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:0910/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:1051/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:1095/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20712/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20717/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20738/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20741/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20759/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20765/ ADVISORY https://www.suse.com/support/update/SUSE-SU-2026:20916/ REF https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.2148

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