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Vulnerability record · CVE-2025-66476 · published 2 December 2025

CVE-2025-66476: Vim uncontrolled search path element vulnerability

Vim · Vim

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1947, an uncontrolled search path vulnerability on Windows allows Vim to execute malicious executables placed in the current working directory for the current edited file. On Windows, when using cmd.exe as a shell, Vim resolves external commands by searching the current working directory before system paths. When Vim invokes tools such as findstr for :grep, external commands or filters via :!, or compiler/:make commands, it may inadvertently run a malicious executable present in the same directory as the file being edited. The issue affects Vim for Windows prior to version 9.1.1947.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.45% · top 63.1% CWE-427 · Uncontrolled search path element
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score
0.45%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1947, an uncontrolled search path vulnerability on Windows allows Vim to execute malicious executables placed in the current working directory for the current edited file. On Windows, when using cmd.exe as a shell, Vim resolves external commands by searching the current working directory before system paths. When Vim invokes tools such as findstr for :grep, external commands or filters via :!, or compiler/:make commands, it may inadvertently run a malicious executable present in the same directory as the file being edited. The issue affects Vim for Windows prior to version 9.1.1947.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25 Patch
https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947 Release Notes
https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834 PatchVendor Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/12/02/5 Mailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

9.8CVE-2020-20703Vim classic buffer overflow vulnerabilityBuffer Overflow vulnerability in VIM v.8.1.2135 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the operand parameter.EPSS 1.5%9.8CVE-2022-3520Vim heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilityHeap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.0765.EPSS 1.0%9.8CVE-2022-0318Vim heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilityHeap-based Buffer Overflow in vim/vim prior to 8.2.EPSS 2.0%9.8CVE-2017-6349Vim integer overflow vulnerabilityAn integer overflow at a u_read_undo memory allocation site would occur for vim before patch 8.0.0377, if it does not properly validate values for tr…EPSS 2.7%9.8CVE-2017-6350Vim integer overflow vulnerabilityAn integer overflow at an unserialize_uep memory allocation site would occur for vim before patch 8.0.0378, if it does not properly validate values f…EPSS 3.2%9.8CVE-2017-5953Vim integer overflow vulnerabilityvim before patch 8.0.0322 does not properly validate values for tree length when handling a spell file, which may result in an integer overflow at a …EPSS 2.8%9.3CVE-2008-6235Vim os command injection vulnerabilityThe Netrw plugin (netrw.vim) in Vim 7.0 and 7.1 allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a filename u…EPSS 3.0%9.3CVE-2008-3074Tar.vim os command injection vulnerabilityThe shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation…EPSS 3.8%

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2025-66476), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.