CVE-2022-2923 in vim
Summary
by MITRE • 08/23/2022
NULL Pointer Dereference in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.0239.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2923 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the vim text editor software. This issue affects versions of vim prior to 9.0.0239 and resides in the GitHub repository vim/vim where the software is actively maintained. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to access a memory location through a null pointer reference, which can lead to application crashes or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The flaw occurs during specific processing operations within the vim editor's codebase, particularly when handling certain input sequences or file operations that trigger the problematic code path.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the vim editor's core functionality. When processing specific patterns or sequences of text, the software fails to properly check for null pointer conditions before attempting to dereference memory addresses. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices. The vulnerability can be triggered through various means including opening specific file types, processing malformed input, or executing certain commands within the vim environment. The null pointer dereference typically occurs in functions that handle text processing, file operations, or command interpretation within the editor's architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2923 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the immediate consequence is application crash or termination, this vulnerability can serve as a foundation for more complex exploitation techniques. Attackers could leverage this null pointer dereference to cause denial of service against systems running vulnerable versions of vim, potentially affecting critical infrastructure or development environments where vim is extensively used. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks, as system availability can be compromised through repeated exploitation of the null pointer dereference. In enterprise environments where vim serves as a primary text editing tool, this vulnerability could impact multiple users and potentially disrupt development workflows or system administration tasks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2923 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of vim 9.0.0239 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to prevent null pointer dereference conditions. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected systems and implement automated update mechanisms to ensure timely deployment of security fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and memory management practices within custom vim configurations or plugins can provide additional defensive layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling and defensive programming techniques, particularly in widely-used software tools that process untrusted input. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in version 9.0.0239 addresses the root cause by adding proper null pointer checks and ensuring that memory references are validated before dereferencing operations are performed, thereby preventing the crash conditions that characterize this vulnerability.