TI-2025-40902 Aliases CVE-2025-66476

Vim for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

LOW 36CWE-427Published 2025-12-02 · Updated 2026-02-26

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-427.

Summary

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1947, an uncontrolled search path vulnerability on Windows allows Vim to execute malicious executables placed in the current working directory for the current edited file. On Windows, when using cmd.exe as a shell, Vim resolves external commands by searching the current working directory before system paths. When Vim invokes tools such as findstr for :grep, external commands or filters via :!, or compiler/:make commands, it may inadvertently run a malicious executable present in the same directory as the file being edited. The issue affects Vim for Windows prior to version 9.1.1947.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00455 39th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Fix Fixed vim (vim): 9.1.1947

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

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
vim	vim	before 9.1.1947	9.1.1947	Patch available	CNA

vim Vendorvim Affected before 9.1.1947 Fixed in 9.1.1947 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim::::::::	before 9.1.1947	Vulnerable	vim
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:::::::*	not specified by NVD	Running on	Microsoft

cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.1.1947 Vulnerable ·vim
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft

Remediation

Fix · CNA vim (vim) Fixed in 9.1.1947

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

Not affected: 6 products

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-66476

References

Patch 3

Other 1

https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v9.1.1947

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

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