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Vim CVE-2026-28420

MEDIUM
Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122)
2026-02-27 security-advisories@github.com
Buffer Overflow Heap Overflow Red Hat Vim Suse
4.4
CVSS 3.1 · GitHub Advisory
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-122
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Heap 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 4.4 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Local. 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

Vim versions prior to 9.2.0076 contain a heap buffer overflow and out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the terminal emulator when handling Unicode combining characters from supplementary planes, allowing a local attacker with user interaction to cause memory corruption and denial of service. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction to trigger, with no confidentiality impact but potential integrity and availability consequences. A patch is available in version 9.2.0076 and later.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:55 CVSS 4.4

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.2.0076, a heap-based buffer overflow WRITE and an out-of-bounds READ exist in Vim's terminal emulator when processing maximum combining characters from Unicode supplementary planes. [CVSS 4.4 MEDIUM]

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available — apply it immediately. Enable ASLR, DEP/NX, and stack canaries where possible.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow). Affects Vim. Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.2.0076, a heap-based buffer overflow WRITE and an out-of-bounds READ exist in Vim's terminal emulator when processing maximum combining characters from Unicode supplementary planes. Version 9.2.0076 fixes the issue.

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

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 4.4 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
SUSE MEDIUM
Red Hat 4.4 MEDIUM

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

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

Lifecycle Timeline

3
PoC Detected
Mar 04, 2026 - 20:47 vuln.today
Public exploit code
Patch released
Mar 04, 2026 - 20:47 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Feb 27, 2026 - 22:16 nvd
MEDIUM 4.4

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.2.0076, a heap-based buffer overflow WRITE and an out-of-bounds READ exist in Vim's terminal emulator when processing maximum combining characters from Unicode supplementary planes. Version 9.2.0076 fixes the issue.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using Vim should be aware of moderate risk from CVE-2026-28420, a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability rated CVSS 4.4. 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 100% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
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 Yes
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
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Low

Priority Score

42
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +22
PoC: +20
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.

Heap Overflow HIGH

A heap overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a buffer allocated in the heap memory region.

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

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

More in Vim

View all
CVE-2022-3520 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Dec 02

Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.0765. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vuln
CVE-2022-0729 HIGH POC
8.8 Feb 23

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

CVE-2026-34714 HIGH POC
8.6 Mar 30

Code execution vulnerability in Vim before 9.2.0272 allows attackers to gain immediate arbitrary command execution upon

CVE-2019-12735 HIGH POC
8.6 Jun 05

getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via th
CVE-2021-3968 HIGH POC
8.0 Nov 19

vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploita
CVE-2022-1616 HIGH POC
7.8 May 07

Use after free in append_command in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4895. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vu
CVE-2022-1619 HIGH POC
7.8 May 08

Heap-based Buffer Overflow in function cmdline_erase_chars in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4899. Rated high se
CVE-2021-4136 HIGH POC
7.8 Dec 19

vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
CVE-2021-3973 HIGH POC
7.8 Nov 19

vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
CVE-2021-3927 HIGH POC
7.8 Nov 05

vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication
CVE-2022-2125 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 19

Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability
CVE-2022-2126 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 19

Out-of-bounds Read in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no a

Same weakness CWE-122 – Heap-based Buffer Overflow

View all
CVE-2023-4911 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2023-27997 CRITICAL
9.8
CVE-2026-94127 CRITICAL POC
9.3
CVE-2025-25249 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2026-85880 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2025-24985 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2026-53362 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2025-21418 HIGH
7.8

Same technique Buffer Overflow

View all
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
9.8
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
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS Fixed

References

Advisories & patches
PATCH http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/02/27/9 PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/bb6de2105b160e729c34063 PATCH https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-rvj2-jrf9-2phg ADVISORY https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8101-1 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/?id.348250 REF https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.2.0076

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