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TI-2023-02338 Aliases CVE-2023-2491GHSA-2hj6-9wp7-hvmh

Command injection in emacs

Priority LOW 36CWE-77Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-77.

Summary

A flaw was found in the Emacs text editor. Processing a specially crafted org-mode code with the "org-babel-execute:latex" function in ob-latex.el can result in arbitrary command execution. This CVE exists because of a CVE-2023-28617 security regression for the emacs package in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00461 40th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—emacsAffects emacs v26.1-9.el8 and emacs v27.2-8.el9, Fixed in emacs v26.1-10.el8_8.2 and emacs v27.2-8.el9_2.1—No fix listedCNA
  • emacs Vendor— Affected Affects emacs v26.1-9.el8 and emacs v27.2-8.el9, Fixed in emacs v26.1-10.el8_8.2 and emacs v27.2-8.el9_2.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 9

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:26.1-9.el8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*26.1-9.el8VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:27.2-8.el9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*27.2-8.el9VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.8VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.2VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.8VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.2VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.8VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:26.1-9.el8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 26.1-9.el8 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:27.2-8.el9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 27.2-8.el9 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.8 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.2 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.8 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.2 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.8 Vulnerable ·Red Hat

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2023:3104 Released 2023-05-16 · Red Hat rating Important
    emacs security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) emacs-1:26.1-10.el8_8.2, emacs-common-1:26.1-10.el8_8.2, emacs-lucid-1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) emacs-1:26.1-10.el8_8.2, emacs-filesystem-1:26.1-10.el8_8.2
  • RHSA-2023:2626 Released 2023-05-09 · Red Hat rating Important
    emacs security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) emacs-1:27.2-8.el9_2.1, emacs-common-1:27.2-8.el9_2.1, emacs-filesystem-1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 +2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:3104
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:2626
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:3104
Not affected: 2 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-2491
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2hj6-9wp7-hvmh

References

Advisory 4

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences