CVE-2022-2124
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2022-2124 is a buffer over-read vulnerability in Vim text editor that allows reading beyond allocated memory boundaries. This affects users running Vim versions prior to 8.2.4961, potentially leading to information disclosure or application crashes.
💻 Affected Systems
- Vim text editor
📦 What is this software?
Fedora by Fedoraproject
Fedora by Fedoraproject
Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Vim by Vim
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution through memory corruption leading to complete system compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities
Likely Case
Application crash (segmentation fault) or information disclosure of adjacent memory contents
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper memory protections and ASLR enabled
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to open malicious files or process crafted input
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 8.2.4961 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/2f074f4685897ab7212e25931eeeb0212292829f
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Vim using your package manager (apt-get update && apt-get upgrade vim, yum update vim, brew upgrade vim) 2. Or compile from source using the patched version from GitHub
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict file processing
allAvoid opening untrusted files with Vim
Use alternative editors
allTemporarily use nano, emacs, or other text editors for untrusted files
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file handling policies for Vim usage
- Enable ASLR and other memory protection mechanisms at OS level
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Run 'vim --version' and check if version is below 8.2.4961Check Version:
vim --version | head -1Verify Fix Applied:
Run 'vim --version' and confirm version is 8.2.4961 or higher📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Segmentation fault logs from Vim processes
- Core dumps from Vim
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
process_name:vim AND (event_type:crash OR exit_code:139 OR exit_code:11)🔗 References
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/28
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/41
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/43
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/45
- https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/2f074f4685897ab7212e25931eeeb0212292829f
- https://huntr.dev/bounties/8e9e056d-f733-4540-98b6-414bf36e0b42
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/06/msg00014.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GFD2A4YLBR7OIRHTL7CK6YNMEIQ264CN/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U743FMJGFQ35GBPCQ6OWMVZEJPDFVEWM/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-32
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-16
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213443
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213444
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213488
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/28
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/41
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/43
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/45
- https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/2f074f4685897ab7212e25931eeeb0212292829f
- https://huntr.dev/bounties/8e9e056d-f733-4540-98b6-414bf36e0b42
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/06/msg00014.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GFD2A4YLBR7OIRHTL7CK6YNMEIQ264CN/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U743FMJGFQ35GBPCQ6OWMVZEJPDFVEWM/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-32
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-16
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213443
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213444
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213488
