CVE-2022-2129 in vim
Summary
by MITRE • 06/19/2022
Out-of-bounds Write in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 8.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2129 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw discovered in the popular vim text editor repository. This issue affects versions of vim prior to 8.2 and constitutes a fundamental memory safety vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The flaw manifests when the editor processes certain input data structures, particularly in scenarios involving buffer manipulation and string handling operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within vim's internal memory management routines. When processing specific input patterns, the editor fails to validate array indices or buffer limits before writing data to memory locations. This allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions or overwriting critical program structures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in software applications. The flaw typically occurs during text processing operations where vim handles complex input sequences, particularly in scenarios involving regular expressions, syntax highlighting, or file parsing functions that manipulate dynamic memory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates opportunities for remote code execution and privilege escalation attacks. An attacker could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious input files or text sequences that trigger the vulnerable code path when opened or processed by vim. The consequences include potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and denial of service conditions that can affect both individual users and enterprise environments. This vulnerability particularly impacts users who frequently open untrusted text files or use vim in automated processing environments where input validation is insufficient. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1548.001 for abuse of system permissions, as successful exploitation can lead to elevated privileges and persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2129 primarily focus on immediate version updates to vim 8.2 or later releases where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected vim installations across enterprise environments, particularly in development and server environments where vim is commonly used. Additional protective measures include implementing input validation controls, restricting vim execution in restricted environments, and deploying runtime monitoring solutions to detect anomalous memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for text processing operations and establishing robust patch management procedures to ensure timely vulnerability remediation. The fix typically involves adding comprehensive bounds checking mechanisms and memory validation routines that prevent unauthorized memory writes while maintaining the editor's core functionality.