vim up to 9.1.1551 Tar path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in vim up to 9.1.1551. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component Tar Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to path traversal. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-53905. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in vim up to 9.1.1551. This vulnerability affects an unknown function of the component Tar Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1552, a path traversal issue in Vim’s tar.vim plugin can allow overwriting of arbitrary files when opening specially crafted tar archives. Impact is low because this exploit requires direct user interaction. However, successfully exploitation can lead to overwriting sensitive files or placing executable code in privileged locations, depending on the permissions of the process editing the archive. The victim must edit such a file using Vim which will reveal the filename and the file content, a careful user may suspect some strange things going on. Successful exploitation could results in the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. Version 9.1.1552 contains a patch for the vulnerability.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-53905 since 07/11/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1006.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242211 (Fedora 42 : vim (2025-9395406660)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 9.1.1552 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (242211) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1575). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Fedora Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Gentoo Linux
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source vim
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Word Processing Software

Name

• vim

Version

• 9.1.1551

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/vim/vim/

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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