CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-1616NVD status: Modified

vim/vim: Use After Free

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-1616 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in vim/vim from Vim, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists version 8.2.4895 as the first without the flaw, so updating vim/vim to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.73% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 86% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update vim/vim to 8.2.4895 or a later version.
  2. Update Vim to 8.2.4895 or a later version.
  3. Update macOS to 13.0 or a later version.
  4. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Vimvim/vimbefore 8.2.48958.2.4895
VimVimbefore 8.2.48958.2.4895
Fedora ProjectFedora34; 35; 36Not stated
DebianDebian Linux9.0; 10.0Not stated
ApplemacOSbefore 13.013.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.07.3HighCNA (huntr.dev)
CVSS 2.06.8MediumNVD

Official description

Use after free in append_command in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.4895. This vulnerability is capable of crashing software, Bypass Protection Mechanism, Modify Memory, and possible remote execution

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
  • When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.

More Use After Free vulnerabilities (CWE-416)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in vim/vim

All vim/vim vulnerabilities

Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities

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