CVE-2019-12735: getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source! command i
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Plan (action score 40/100)
- Public proof-of-concept code exists (Exploit-DB, GitHub); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 18.9% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 97.3% of all records.
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: vim (Alpine:v3.10) 8.1.1365-r0; vim (Alpine:v3.7) 8.0.1359-r2; vim (Alpine:v3.8) 8.1.1365.
Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to vim (Alpine:v3.10) 8.1.1365-r0; vim (Alpine:v3.7) 8.0.1359-r2; vim (Alpine:v3.8) 8.1.1365 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
getchar.c in Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via the :source! command in a modeline, as demonstrated by execute in Vim, and assert_fails or nvim_input in Neovim.
- BDU:2019-03251
- DLA-1871-1
- DSA-4467-1
- DSA-4487-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1551-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1561-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1759-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1796-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1997-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11081-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11497-1
- RHSA-2019:1619
- RHSA-2019:1774
- RHSA-2019:1793
- RHSA-2019:1947
- SUSE-SU-2019:14078-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:1456-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:1457-1
- Published
- Jun 5, 2019
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 18.9% · 97th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-78
Report tools
Action score
40
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 34 / 40 · 8.6 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 6 / 30 · 18.9%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Proof of concept exists, no weaponized module
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- neovim neovimbefore 0.3.6
- vim vimbefore 8.1.1365
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine:v3.10 | vim | before 8.1.1365-r0 | 8.1.1365-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.7 | vim | before 8.0.1359-r2 | 8.0.1359-r2 |
| Alpine:v3.8 | vim | before 8.1.1365 | 8.1.1365 |
| Debian:12 | neovim | before 0.3.4-3 | 0.3.4-3 |
| Debian:12 | vim | before 2:8.1.0875-4 | 2:8.1.0875-4 |
| Debian:8 | vim | before 2:7.4.488-7+deb8u4 | 2:7.4.488-7+deb8u4 |
| Debian:9 | neovim | before 0.1.7-4+deb9u1 | 0.1.7-4+deb9u1 |
| Debian:9 | vim | before 2:8.0.0197-4+deb9u2 | 2:8.0.0197-4+deb9u2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | neovim | before 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | neovim | before 0.3.7-lp151.2.7.1 | 0.3.7-lp151.2.7.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | vim | before 8.0.1568-lp151.5.3.1 | 8.0.1568-lp151.5.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | neovim | before 0.5.1-1.1 | 0.5.1-1.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | vim | before 8.2.3408-1.2 | 8.2.3408-1.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-common | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-debuginfo | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-enhanced | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-filesystem | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-minimal | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | vim-X11 | before 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 | 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | vim | before 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | vim-common | before 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | vim-debuginfo | before 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | vim-enhanced | before 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 |
+35
Same product
vim: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2008-2712Vim 7.1.314, 6.4, and other versions allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via Vim scripts that do not properl42Plan
- CVE-2022-0318Heap-based Buffer Overflow in vim/vim40Plan
- CVE-2017-6350An integer overflow at an unserialize_uep memory allocation site would occur for vim before patch 8.0.0378, if it does not properly validate40Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2017-1000382Oct 31, 2017 · VIM version 8.0.1187 (and other versions most likely) ignores umask when creating a swap file ("[ORIGINAL_FILENAME].swp") resulting in files22Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2017-17087Dec 1, 2017 · fileio.c in Vim prior to 8.0.1263 sets the group ownership of a .swp file to the editor's primary group (which may be different from the gro22Monitor
- Later →CVE-2019-20079Dec 29, 2019 · The autocmd feature in window.c in Vim before 8.1.2136 accesses freed memory.32Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| alpine:vim | 8.1.1365-r0 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:neovim | 0.3.4-3 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:vim | 2:8.1.0875-4 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:neovim | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:vim | 8.0.1568-lp151.5.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-common | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-common-debuginfo | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-debuginfo | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-debugsource | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-enhanced | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-enhanced-debuginfo | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-filesystem | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-minimal | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-minimal-debuginfo | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-X11 | 2:7.4.160-6.el7_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:vim-X11-debuginfo | 2:8.0.1763-11.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:neovim | 0.3.1-bp150.2.6.1 · SUSE:Package Hub 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:vim | 7.2-8.21.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×5
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-06-04 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:9 | 2019-06-06 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2019-06-18 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2020-10-26 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2021-05-20 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2022-07-26 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- First PoC-1 d
- Published
- TodayOct 25, 2026+2700 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-78 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Root cause
User input is inserted as text into a shell command. The shell may interpret special characters in the input as part of the command.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-78 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
const host = req.body.host;
exec("ping -c 1 " + host, onResult);Fixed
const host = req.body.host;
if (!/^[a-z0-9.-]{1,253}$/i.test(host)) return res.sendStatus(400);
execFile("ping", ["-c", "1", host], onResult);Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Command DelimitersCAPEC-15likelihood: High · High
- Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation LayersCAPEC-43likelihood: Medium · High
- Argument InjectionCAPEC-6likelihood: High · High
- OS Command InjectionCAPEC-88likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- support.f5.com/csp/article/K93144355
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00031.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00036.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00037.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00034.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00050.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00075.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/108724
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1619
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1774
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1793
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1947
- bugs.debian.org/930020
- bugs.debian.org/930024
- github.com/neovim/neovim/pull/10082
- github.com/vim/vim/commit/53575521406739cf20bbe4e384d88e7dca11f040
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/08/msg00003.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2BMDSHTF754TITC6AQJPCS5IRIDMMIM7/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TRIRBC2YRGKPAWVRMZS4SZTGGCVRVZPR/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.