vim up to 9.2.0478 Archive File runtime/autoload/tar.vim Vimuntar os command injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in vim up to 9.2.0478. The affected element is the function Vimuntar of the file runtime/autoload/tar.vim of the component Archive File Handler. This manipulation causes os command injection. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-46483. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in vim up to 9.2.0478. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function Vimuntar of the file runtime/autoload/tar.vim of the component Archive File 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. The summary by CVE is:

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to 9.2.0479, a command injection vulnerability exists in tar#Vimuntar() in runtime/autoload/tar.vim when decompressing .tgz archives on Unix-like systems. The function builds :!gunzip and :!gzip -d commands using shellescape(tartail) without the {special} flag, allowing a crafted archive filename to trigger Vim cmdline-special expansion and execute shell commands in the user's context. This vulnerability is fixed in 9.2.0479.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-46483 since 05/14/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1202 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 318124 (openSUSE 16 Security Update : vim (openSUSE-SU-2026:20828-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 9.2.479 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com. Applying the patch 3fb5e58fbc63d86a3e65f1a141b0d67af2aa38a1 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (318124) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-1548). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source vim

Productinfo

Type

• Word Processing Software

Name

• vim

Version

• 9.2.0478

License

• open-source

Website

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

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