CVE-2022-2845 in vim
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2022
Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.0218.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2845 represents a critical input validation flaw within the vim text editor repository managed by GitHub. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 9.0.0218 and stems from inadequate validation of specified quantities in input processing mechanisms. The flaw manifests when vim encounters certain input parameters that define quantities or sizes, failing to properly validate these values before processing them. This improper validation creates a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit the editor's input handling routines.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of specified quantities in input processing. The flaw occurs within vim's internal parsing logic where quantity parameters are accepted without proper bounds checking or validation. When an attacker provides malformed input containing excessive or invalid quantity values, the editor may process these inputs without adequate safeguards, potentially leading to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. The vulnerability specifically impacts how vim handles input that specifies numerical quantities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted content.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who rely on vim for text processing tasks, especially in multi-user or networked environments. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw by crafting specially formatted input files or commands that trigger the validation bypass when vim processes them. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the improper quantity validation could enable more sophisticated attacks such as arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. Systems where vim is used for processing untrusted documents, configuration files, or user-generated content face heightened exposure to this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2845 center on immediate software updates to versions 9.0.0218 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of vim are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing input sanitization layers, restricting vim execution in privileged contexts, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that limit vim usage to trusted environments and content sources. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.001 emphasizes the importance of input validation in preventing command injection and arbitrary code execution scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of vim and ensure proper remediation measures are in place.