Description
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.
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 | 2:7.2.025-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | vim | 2:7.2.025-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | vim | 2:7.2.025-2 | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | vim | 9.0.0814-17.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | vim | 8.0.130-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10234-1 |
Advisories 2
- SUSE-SU-2022:4619-1 Security update for vim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10234-1 gvim-8.0.130-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=493937
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=484305
- 33447 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20090126 CVE request -- Python < 2.6 PySys_SetArgv issues (epiphany, csound, dia, eog, gedit, xchat, vim, nautilus-python, Gnumeric) mailing-list
- APPLE-SA-2010-03-29-1 vendor-advisory
- [debian-bugs-rc] 20080805 Bug#484305: bicyclerepair: bike.vim imports untrusted python files from cwd mailing-list
- https://svn.pardus.org.tr/pardus/2008/applications/editors/vim/files/official/7.2.045
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- MDVSA-2009:047 vendor-advisory
- vim-pysyssetargv-privilege-escalation(48275) vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=481565