Description
getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source! command in a modeline, as demonstrated by execute in Vim, and assert_fails or nvim_input in Neovim.
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 | neovim | 0.3.4-3 | — |
| Debian 14 | vim | 2:8.1.0875-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | neovim | 0.3.4-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | vim | 2:8.1.0875-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | neovim | 0.3.4-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | vim | 2:8.1.0875-4 | — |
| Debian 9 | neovim | 0.1.7-4+deb9u1 | DSA-4487-1 |
| Debian 9 | vim | 2:8.0.0197-4+deb9u2 | DSA-4467-1 |
| Debian 8 | vim | 2:7.4.488-7+deb8u4 | DLA-1871-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | vim | 2:8.0.1453-1ubuntu1.1 | USN-4016-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | vim | 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.3 | USN-4016-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | neovim | 0.2.2-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4862-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | vim +5 | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 | RHSA-2019:1619 |
| RHEL 7 | vim +5 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 | RHSA-2019:1619 |
| RHEL 6 | vim +5 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | RHSA-2019:1774 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7.5 EUS | vim +5 | 2:7.4.160-4.el7_5.1 | RHSA-2019:1793 |
| RHEL 7.4 EUS | vim +5 | 2:7.4.160-2.el7_4.1 | RHSA-2019:1947 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP1 | vim | 8.0.1568-5.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1457-1 |
| SLES 15 | vim | 8.0.1568-5.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1457-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES 12 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | vim | 7.2-8.21.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:14078-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | neovim | 0.3.7-bp151.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1997-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | neovim | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1796-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1551-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | vim | 7.2-8.21.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:14078-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | vim | 7.4.326-17.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | neovim | 0.5.1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11081-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | vim | 8.2.3408-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11497-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | neovim | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1759-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1551-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | vim | 8.0.1568-lp151.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1561-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | neovim | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1759-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1551-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | vim | 8.0.1568-lp151.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1561-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.24 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.19 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | neovim | 0.3.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | vim | 8.1.1365-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | vim | 8.1.1365 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | vim | 8.0.1359-r2 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | vim-X11 +4 | 2:8.1.1602-1.amzn2 | ALAS2-2019-1239 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | vim-X11 +4 | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 | ELSA-2019-1619 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Vim < 8.1.1365 / Neovim < 0.3.6 - Arbitrary Code Execution EDB-46973 · local · Jun 4, 2019
GitHub 5 repositories
-
pcy190/ace-vim-neovim ★ 9 · Jun 6, 2019
Vim/Neovim Arbitrary Code Execution via Modelines (CVE-2019-12735)
-
oldthree3/CVE-2019-12735-VIM-NEOVIM ★ 2 · Jun 18, 2019
-
nickylimjj/cve-2019-12735 ★ 1 · May 20, 2021
Docker image that lets me study the exploitation of the VIM exploit
-
st9007a/CVE-2019-12735 ★ 0 · Jul 26, 2022
A demo for cve-2019-12735
-
datntsec/CVE-2019-12735 ★ 0 · Oct 26, 2020
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 21
- RHSA-2019:1947 Red Hat Security Advisory: vim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2019:1793 Red Hat Security Advisory: vim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2019:1619 Red Hat Security Advisory: vim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2019:1774 Red Hat Security Advisory: vim security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-4487-1 neovim - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-4467-1 vim - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1871-1 vim - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-4862-1 neovim vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-4016-1 vim vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1759-1 Security update for neovim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11081-1 neovim-0.5.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1796-1 Security update for neovim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11497-1 gvim-8.2.3408-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1551-1 Security update for neovim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1561-1 Security update for vim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:1457-1 Security update for vim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1 Security update for vim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1997-1 Security update for neovim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:14078-1 Security update for vim SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ALAS2-2019-1239 Important: vim security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Aug 27, 2019
- ELSA-2019-1619 Important: vim security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 18, 2019
References
- https://github.com/numirias/security/blob/master/doc/2019-06-04_ace-vim-neovim.md
- https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/53575521406739cf20bbe4e384d88e7dca11f040
- https://github.com/neovim/neovim/pull/10082
- https://bugs.debian.org/930020
- https://bugs.debian.org/930024
- FEDORA-2019-d79f89346c vendor-advisory
- USN-4016-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-4016-2 vendor-advisory
- 108724 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2019-dcd49378b8 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1551 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1562 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1561 vendor-advisory
- DSA-4467 vendor-advisory
- 20190624 [SECURITY] [DSA 4467-2] vim regression update mailing-list
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K93144355
- RHSA-2019:1619 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:1774 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:1793 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1759 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1796 vendor-advisory
- DSA-4487 vendor-advisory
- 20190724 [SECURITY] [DSA 4487-1] neovim security update mailing-list
- RHSA-2019:1947 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190803 [SECURITY] [DLA 1871-1] vim security update mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1997 vendor-advisory
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K93144355?utm_source=f5support&utm_medium=RSS
- GLSA-202003-04 vendor-advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46973