The sandbox for vim allows dangerous functions such as (1) writefile, (2) feedkeys, and…
Priority LOW 39Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The sandbox for vim allows dangerous functions such as (1) writefile, (2) feedkeys, and (3) system, which might allow user-assisted attackers to execute shell commands and write files via modelines.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.03221 88th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:foresight_linux:foresight_linux:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1 | Running on | Foresight Linux |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Vim Development Group |
- cpe:2.3:o:foresight_linux:foresight_linux:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1 Running on ·Foresight Linux
- cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Vim Development Group
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2007:0346 Released 2007-05-09 · Red Hat rating Moderatevim security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) vim-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3.i386 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) vim-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-3.el5.3.i386 +6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2007:0346 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2007:0346 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2007-2438
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x2f5-352x-j9w7
References
Other 12
- [vim-dev] 20070426 feedkeys() allowed in sandbox
- ADV-2007-1599
- http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/vimdev/message/46627
- http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/vimdev/message/46658
- http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/vimdev/message/46645
- 20070513 OMG VIM VULN
- 20070823 vim editor duplicates / clarifications
- http://www.vim.org/news/news.php
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=238259
- [vimannounce] 20070512 Stable Vim version 7.1 has been released
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9876
- 36250
More Vim Development Group Vim vulnerabilities
- TI-2005-02240 vim 6.3 before 6.3.082, with modelines enabled, allows external user-assisted attackers… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
- TI-2007-02859 Format string vulnerability in the helptags_one function in src/ex_cmds.c in Vim 6.4 and… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.8
- TI-2004-01033 VIM before 6.3 and gVim before 6.3 allow local users to execute arbitrary commands via a… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2001-00401 vim (aka gvim) processes VIM control codes that are embedded in a file, which could allow… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.1
- TI-2002-01300 vim 6.0 and 6.1, and possibly other versions, allows attackers to execute arbitrary… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.6
- TI-2005-00055 The (1) tcltags or (2) vimspell.sh scripts in vim 6.3 allow local users to overwrite or… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.6
Sources
- CVE-2007-2438 · CVE Program
- CVE-2007-2438 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x2f5-352x-j9w7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2007-2438 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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