CVE-2008-3074
The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation point) shell metacharacter in (1) the filename of a tar archive and possibly (2) the filename of the…
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (3.84%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation point) shell metacharacter in (1) the filename of a tar archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a tar archive, which is not properly handled by the VIM TAR plugin (tar.vim) v.10 through v.22, as demonstrated by the shellescape, tarplugin.v2, tarplugin, and tarplugin.updated test cases. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-2712. NOTE: this issue has the same root cause as CVE-2008-3075. NOTE: due to the complexity of the associated disclosures and the incomplete information related to them, there may be inaccuracies in this CVE description and in external mappings to this identifier.
- CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 HIGHAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
- EPSS
- 3.84% probability · 90th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-78
- Affected
- vim/tar.vim · vim/vim
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 3.8% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=506919
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-03/msg00004.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121494431426308&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34418
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0324
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:236
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/4Exploit, Patch
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/08/12
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/10/7
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/13/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/15/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/08/01/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/20/2
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-shellescape.html
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim.htmlExploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0580.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32462
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=467428
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10754
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=506919
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-03/msg00004.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121494431426308&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34418
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0324
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:236
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/4Exploit, Patch
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/08/12
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.