Read the docs
TI-2025-19540 Aliases CVE-2025-26603

heap-use-after-free in function str_to_reg in vim/vim

Priority LOW 19CWE-416Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · Low
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

Vim is a greatly improved version of the good old UNIX editor Vi. Vim allows to redirect screen messages using the `:redir` ex command to register, variables and files. It also allows to show the contents of registers using the `:registers` or `:display` ex command. When redirecting the output of `:display` to a register, Vim will free the register content before storing the new content in the register. Now when redirecting the `:display` command to a register that is being displayed, Vim will free the content while shortly afterwards trying to access it, which leads to a use-after-free. Vim pre 9.1.1115 checks in the ex_display() function, that it does not try to redirect to a register while displaying this register at the same time. However this check is not complete, and so Vim does not check the `+` and `*` registers (which typically donate the X11/clipboard registers, and when a clipboard connection is not possible will fall back to use register 0 instead. In Patch 9.1.1115 Vim will therefore skip outputting to register zero when trying to redirect to the clipboard registers `*` or `+`. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00239 15th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial vim (vim): 9.1.1115Red Hat: 7 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
vimvimbefore 9.1.11159.1.1115Patch availableCNA
  • vim Vendorvim Affected before 9.1.1115 Fixed in 9.1.1115 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 9.1.1115Vulnerablevim
cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableNetApp
  • cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.1.1115 Vulnerable ·vim
  • cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA vim (vim) Fixed in 9.1.1115

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)Affected—
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-26603
  2. 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

  • 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
See all 258 →

Sources