CVE-2026-51401 - Vulnerability Details

- vim: Vim: Arbitrary code execution via vms_fixfilename() function

Description

An issue in Vim Project v9.2.0389 and earlier allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code via the vms_fixfilename() function within file vim/src/os_vms.c

Published: 2026-08-04

Score: 7.7 High

EPSS: < 1% Very Low

KEV: No

Impact:

Action:

Analysis

Impact

The flaw exists within the Vim text editor’s vms_fixfilename() routine in os_vms.c. It allows a local attacker who can run Vim to execute arbitrary code, effectively compromising the execution environment of the vulnerable instance. The vulnerability is a classic code injection scenario that can grant an attacker full control over the system process running Vim.

Affected Systems

All Vim Project releases up to and including version 9.2.0389 are affected. Versions newer than 9.2.0389 have been updated to fix the issue. The vulnerability applies to any system running Vim where os_vms.c is compiled and used.

Risk and Exploitability

EPSS indicates a probability of exploitation that is less than 1%, reflecting a very low likelihood of being exploited in the wild. The CVSS score of 7.7 classifies this vulnerability as High, indicating significant potential for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV, with no documented public exploit. It is inferred that the attack vector is local, requiring user access that can launch Vim and trigger the vulnerable function. Given the impact, the severity is High.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

n/a

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`n/a`	affected	—

No data.

Vendor Product Confidence Versions

Vim

80%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,9.2.0389]`	affected	semver	—

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade Vim to a version later than 9.2.0389, such as the current latest release.
If upgrading is not immediately possible, apply a source‑level patch to os_vms.c to neutralize or restrict the vms_fixfilename() functionality.
Limit the execution permissions of Vim and its configuration files and run Vim under the least‑privileged user accounts to reduce the potential damage from an exploit.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 5, 2026 at 23:26 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.00139.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://gist.github.com/jiejiaodedengdai/ff5d34a523167e09b7d8330cc9f5d4e5#file-vim-os_vms-cves-md
https://github.com/vim/vim
https://github.com/vim/vim/blob/master/src/os_vms.c
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-51401
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-51401

History

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Weaknesses	CWE-77

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics	cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}`	ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}` cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}`

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Title	Local Arbitrary Code Execution via vms_fixfilename in Vim	vim: Vim: Arbitrary code execution via vms_fixfilename() function
Weaknesses		CWE-641
References		https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-51401 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-51401
Metrics	threat_severity `None`	cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}` threat_severity `Important`

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Vim Vim vim
Vendors & Products		Vim Vim vim

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Title		Local Arbitrary Code Execution via vms_fixfilename in Vim
Weaknesses		CWE-77 CWE-94

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		An issue in Vim Project v9.2.0389 and earlier allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code via the vms_fixfilename() function within file vim/src/os_vms.c
References		https://gist.github.com/jiejiaodedengdai/ff5d34a523167e09b7d8330cc9f5d4e5#file-vim-os_vms-cves-md https://github.com/vim/vim https://github.com/vim/vim/blob/master/src/os_vms.c

Subscriptions

Vim Vim

MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published: 2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z

Updated: 2026-08-05T19:14:26.404Z

Reserved: 2026-06-07T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2026-51401

Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-05T19:14:20.089Z

NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-04T21:16:36.567

Modified: 2026-08-05T20:17:09.310

Link: CVE-2026-51401

Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-08-04T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-51401 - Bugzilla

OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-05T23:30:04Z

Weaknesses

CWE-641
Improper Restriction of Names for Files and Other Resources
CWE-94
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Impact

Affected Systems

Risk and Exploitability

Tracking

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

Subscriptions

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