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TI-2007-02859 Aliases CVE-2007-2953GHSA-ggw5-mghh-pg96

Format string vulnerability in the helptags_one function in src/ex_cmds.c in Vim 6.4 and…

Priority LOW 37Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Medium
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Partial · Partial · Partial
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

Format string vulnerability in the helptags_one function in src/ex_cmds.c in Vim 6.4 and earlier, and 7.x up to 7.1, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in a help-tags tag in a help file, related to the helptags command.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.04179 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 4

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 6.4VulnerableVim Development Group
cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableVim Development Group
cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1VulnerableVim Development Group
cpe:2.3:a:vim_development_group:vim:7.1.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.1.38VulnerableVim Development Group

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2008:0617 Released 2008-11-25 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    vim security update
    • Red Hat Desktop version 3 vim-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11.i386 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 vim-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11.i386 +14
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 vim-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z.i386 +14
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 vim-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z.i386 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 vim-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11.i386 +10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 vim-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z.i386 +10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 vim-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-0.30E.11.i386 +10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 vim-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z, vim-X11-1:6.3.046-1.el4_7.5z.i386 +10
  • RHSA-2008:0580 Released 2008-11-25 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    vim security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) vim-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z.i386 +14
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) vim-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z, vim-X11-2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z.i386 +6

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Desktop version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server)Fixed RHSA-2008:0580
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2008:0580
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0617
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0617

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2007-2953
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ggw5-mghh-pg96

References

  • TI-2005-02240 vim 6.3 before 6.3.082, with modelines enabled, allows external user-assisted attackers… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2007-02354 The sandbox for vim allows dangerous functions such as (1) writefile, (2) feedkeys, and… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.6
  • 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
See all 7 →

Sources