Untrusted search path vulnerability in src/if_python.c in the Python interface in Vim…
Priority LOW 36Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Untrusted search path vulnerability in src/if_python.c in the Python interface in Vim before 7.2.045 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a Trojan horse Python file in the current working directory, related to a vulnerability in the PySys_SetArgv function (CVE-2008-5983), as demonstrated by an erroneous search path for plugin/bike.vim in bicyclerepair.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02734 86th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
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 · 21
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 7.2 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:1.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.22 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.1 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.2 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.4 | Vulnerable | vim |
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 7.2 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:1.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.22 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.1 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.2 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.4 Vulnerable ·vim
Show 11 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.5 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.6 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.7 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.8 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.1 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.2 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.3 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.4 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | vim |
| cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 | Vulnerable | vim |
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.5 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.6 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.7 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:5.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.8 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.1 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.2 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.3 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.4 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·vim
- cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 Vulnerable ·vim
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-0316
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x433-429v-9473
References
Advisory 2
Other 7
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=493937
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=484305
- [oss-security] 20090126 CVE request -- Python < 2.6 PySys_SetArgv issues (epiphany, csound, dia, eog, gedit, xchat, vim, nautilus-python, Gnumeric)
- [debian-bugs-rc] 20080805 Bug#484305: bicyclerepair: bike.vim imports untrusted python files from cwd
- https://svn.pardus.org.tr/pardus/2008/applications/editors/vim/files/official/7.2.045
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=481565
More Vim vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-03248 Heap-based Buffer Overflow in vim/vim CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-15103 Vim before 9.0.2142 has a stack-based buffer overflow because did_set_langmap in map.c… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-05093 Use After Free in vim/vim CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-04407 Heap-based Buffer Overflow in vim/vim CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-04379 Heap-based Buffer Overflow in vim/vim CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-04378 Use After Free in vim/vim CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2009-0316 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-0316 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x433-429v-9473 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2009-0316 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences