CVE-2025-66476 (GCVE-0-2025-66476)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-12-02 21:49 – Updated: 2026-02-26 16:57
VLAI
Title
Vim for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Summary
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.
Severity
7.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2025-12-05 04:56 UTC
CWE
  • CWE-427 - Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Assigner
GitHub_M CNA under the mitre root
CNA scorecard C 72/100 over 7793 records in the last 180 days details
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
vim vim Affected: < 9.1.1947
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2025-66476",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2025-12-05T04:56:30.559318Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-02-26T16:57:37.255Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      },
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2025-12-03T00:12:51.024Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/12/02/5"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "vim",
          "vendor": "vim",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 9.1.1947"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "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."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "baseScore": 7.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-427",
              "description": "CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2025-12-02T21:49:24.672Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Vim for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2025-66476",
    "datePublished": "2025-12-02T21:49:24.672Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-12-02T16:23:01.098Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-02-26T16:57:37.255Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2025-66476",
      "date": "2026-10-26",
      "epss": "0.00453",
      "percentile": "0.39104"
    },
    "microsoft_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2025-12-09T01:37:47.000Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-66476",
      "id": "msrc_CVE-2025-66476",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "2",
      "source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Vim for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2025/msrc_cve-2025-66476.json",
      "version": "2"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "affected": [
          {
            "affectedData": [
              {
                "product": "vim",
                "vendor": "vim",
                "versions": [
                  {
                    "status": "affected",
                    "version": "\u003c 9.1.1947"
                  }
                ]
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
          }
        ],
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "7F415DD0-063B-4239-B760-A7327109D919",
                    "versionEndExcluding": "9.1.1947",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              },
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "A2572D17-1DE6-457B-99CC-64AFD54487EA",
                    "vulnerable": false
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ],
            "operator": "AND"
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "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."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "Vim es un editor de texto de c\u00f3digo abierto y de l\u00ednea de comandos. Versiones anteriores a la versi\u00f3n 9.1.1947, una vulnerabilidad de ruta de b\u00fasqueda incontrolada en Windows permite a Vim ejecutar ejecutables maliciosos colocados en el directorio de trabajo actual para el archivo editado actualmente. En Windows, al usar cmd.exe como shell, Vim resuelve comandos externos buscando en el directorio de trabajo actual antes que en las rutas del sistema. Cuando Vim invoca herramientas como findstr para :grep, comandos externos o filtros a trav\u00e9s de :!, o comandos de compilador/:make, puede ejecutar inadvertidamente un ejecutable malicioso presente en el mismo directorio que el archivo que se est\u00e1 editando. El problema afecta a Vim para Windows versiones anteriores a la versi\u00f3n 9.1.1947."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2025-66476",
        "lastModified": "2026-10-18T18:10:00.100",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 7.8,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
              "type": "Secondary"
            }
          ],
          "ssvcV203": [
            {
              "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "ssvcData": {
                "id": "CVE-2025-66476",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "technicalImpact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2025-12-05T04:56:30.559318Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2025-12-02T22:16:09.940",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Release Notes"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Patch",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/12/02/5"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-427"
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "type": "Secondary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Important",
      "current_release_date": "2026-09-16T07:23:26+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-66476",
      "id": "CVE-2025-66476",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-12-02T21:49:24.672000+00:00",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "34",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "vim: Vim for Windows: Uncontrolled search path vulnerability allows arbitrary code execution",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-66476.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": {
        "adp": [
          {
            "providerMetadata": {
              "dateUpdated": "2025-12-03T00:12:51.024Z",
              "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
              "shortName": "CVE"
            },
            "references": [
              {
                "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/12/02/5"
              }
            ],
            "title": "CVE Program Container"
          },
          {
            "metrics": [
              {
                "other": {
                  "content": {
                    "id": "CVE-2025-66476",
                    "options": [
                      {
                        "Exploitation": "none"
                      },
                      {
                        "Automatable": "no"
                      },
                      {
                        "Technical Impact": "total"
                      }
                    ],
                    "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                    "timestamp": "2025-12-05T04:56:30.559318Z",
                    "version": "2.0.3"
                  },
                  "type": "ssvc"
                }
              }
            ],
            "providerMetadata": {
              "dateUpdated": "2025-12-02T21:55:51.383Z",
              "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
            },
            "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
          }
        ],
        "cna": {
          "affected": [
            {
              "product": "vim",
              "vendor": "vim",
              "versions": [
                {
                  "status": "affected",
                  "version": "\u003c 9.1.1947"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "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."
            }
          ],
          "metrics": [
            {
              "cvssV3_1": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 7.8,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              }
            }
          ],
          "problemTypes": [
            {
              "descriptions": [
                {
                  "cweId": "CWE-427",
                  "description": "CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element",
                  "lang": "en",
                  "type": "CWE"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "providerMetadata": {
            "dateUpdated": "2025-12-02T21:49:24.672Z",
            "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
            "shortName": "GitHub_M"
          },
          "references": [
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/security/advisories/GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/083ec6d9a3b7b09006e0ce69ac802597d25"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947"
            }
          ],
          "source": {
            "advisory": "GHSA-g77q-xrww-p834",
            "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
          },
          "title": "Vim for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability"
        }
      },
      "cveMetadata": {
        "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
        "cveId": "CVE-2025-66476",
        "datePublished": "2025-12-02T21:49:24.672Z",
        "dateReserved": "2025-12-02T16:23:01.098Z",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-02-26T16:57:37.255Z",
        "state": "PUBLISHED"
      },
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.




Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.

Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline

Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC

JSON

Loading timeline…




    Related by attack behaviour

    Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.