Description
The Netrw plugin (netrw.vim) in Vim 7.0 and 7.1 allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a filename used by the (1) "D" (delete) command or (2) b:netrw_curdir variable, as demonstrated using the netrw.v4 and netrw.v5 test cases.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | vim | 2:7.2.148-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | vim | 2:7.2.148-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | vim | 2:7.2.148-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | vim +4 | 2:7.0.109-4.el5_2.4z | RHSA-2008:0580 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2008:0580 Red Hat Security Advisory: vim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- SUSE-SR:2009:007 vendor-advisory
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-netrw.v5.html
- [oss-security] 20081020 CVE request (vim) mailing-list
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-netrw.html
- [oss-security] 20081016 CVE request - Vim netrw.plugin mailing-list
- RHSA-2008:0580 vendor-advisory
- 34418 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11247 vdb-entry signature
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-netrw.v2.html