Emacs 28.1/28.2 Mailto URI emacsclient-mail.desktop os command injection

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Emacs 28.1/28.2. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file emacsclient-mail.desktop of the component Mailto URI Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to os command injection. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2023-27985. No exploit is available. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Emacs 28.1/28.2 (Word Processing Software). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the file emacsclient-mail.desktop of the component Mailto URI Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a os command injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-78. The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

emacsclient-mail.desktop in Emacs 28.1 through 28.2 is vulnerable to shell command injections through a crafted mailto: URI. This is related to lack of compliance with the Desktop Entry Specification.

The weakness was published 03/09/2023. The advisory is shared for download at git.savannah.gnu.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-27985 since 03/09/2023. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1202.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242832 (NewStart CGSL MAIN 7.02 : emacs Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0115)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.savannah.gnu.org.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (242832) and EUVD (EUVD-2023-31711). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Os command injection
CWE: CWE-78 / CWE-77 / CWE-74
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 242832
Nessus Name: NewStart CGSL MAIN 7.02 : emacs Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0115)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: git.savannah.gnu.org

Timelineinfo

03/09/2023 🔍
03/09/2023 +0 days 🔍
03/09/2023 +0 days 🔍
12/01/2025 +998 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: git.savannah.gnu.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-27985 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-27985
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-222640
EUVD: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/09/2023 12:34
Updated: 12/01/2025 03:38
Changes: 03/09/2023 12:34 (41), 04/02/2023 08:36 (11), 07/26/2025 06:14 (17), 12/01/2025 03:38 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:903:103

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