CVE-2017-14482
GNU Emacs before 25.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via email with crafted "Content-Type: text/enriched" data containing an x-display XML element that specifies execution of shell commands, related to an unsafe text/enriched…
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (4.01%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
GNU Emacs before 25.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via email with crafted "Content-Type: text/enriched" data containing an x-display XML element that specifies execution of shell commands, related to an unsafe text/enriched extension in lisp/textmodes/enriched.el, and unsafe Gnus support for enriched and richtext inline MIME objects in lisp/gnus/mm-view.el. In particular, an Emacs user can be instantly compromised by reading a crafted email message (or Usenet news article).
- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 4.01% probability · 90th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- gnu/emacs · debian/debian linux
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 4.0% since 27 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://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3975
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/09/11/1Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2771
- https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=28350Issue Tracking, Mailing List, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/commit/?h=emacs-25&id=9ad0fcc54442a9a01d41be19880250783426db70Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201801-07
- https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3970Third Party Advisory
- https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/index.html#ReleasesRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3975
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/09/11/1Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2771
- https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=28350Issue Tracking, Mailing List, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/commit/?h=emacs-25&id=9ad0fcc54442a9a01d41be19880250783426db70Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201801-07
- https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3970Third Party Advisory
- https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/index.html#ReleasesRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.