GNU Emacs through 28.2 allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file, because lib-src/etag
GNU Emacs through 28.2 allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file, because lib-src/etags.c uses the system C library function in its implementation of the etags program. For example, a victim may use the "etags -u *" command (suggested in the etags documentation) in a situation where the current working directory has contents that depend on untrusted input.
- Published
- Feb 20, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 1.6% · 75th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-78
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Report tools
Action score
39
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 1.6%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- debian debian linux11.0
- gnu emacsup to 28.2 inclusive
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs-common | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs-filesystem | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs-lucid | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs-nox | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | emacs-terminal | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | emacs | before 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | emacs-common | before 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | emacs-filesystem | before 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | emacs-lucid | before 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | emacs-nox | before 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 |
| Debian:10 | emacs | before 1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u4 | 1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u4 |
| Debian:11 | emacs | before 1:27.1+1-3.1+deb11u2 | 1:27.1+1-3.1+deb11u2 |
| Debian:12 | emacs | before 1:28.2+1-11 | 1:28.2+1-11 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | emacs | before 28.2-2.1 | 28.2-2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-common | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-common-debuginfo | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-debuginfo | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-debugsource | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-lucid | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-lucid-debuginfo | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-nox | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | emacs-nox-debuginfo | before 1:26.1-11.el8 | 1:26.1-11.el8 |
+39
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2007-6109Stack-based buffer overflow in emacs allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly have unspe41Plan
- CVE-2024-39331In Emacs before 29.4, org-link-expand-abbrev in lisp/ol.el expands a %(...) link abbrev even when it specifies an unsafe function, such as s39Monitor
- CVE-2012-0035Untrusted search path vulnerability in EDE in CEDET before 1.0.1, as used in GNU Emacs before 23.4 and other products, allows local users to38Monitor
- CVE-2017-14482GNU Emacs before 25.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via email with crafted "Content-Type: text/enriched" data containing36Monitor
- CVE-2024-53920In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs before 30.1, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs L31Monitor
- CVE-2024-30202In Emacs before 29.3, arbitrary Lisp code is evaluated as part of turning on Org mode.31Monitor
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 |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:emacs | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:emacs-common | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:emacs-filesystem | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:emacs-lucid | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:emacs-nox | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:emacs-terminal | 1:26.1-11.el8 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:emacs | 1:28.2+1-11 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:emacs | 27.2-150400.3.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-common | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-common-debuginfo | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-debuginfo | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-debugsource | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-filesystem | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-lucid | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-lucid-debuginfo | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-nox | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-nox-debuginfo | 1:27.2-8.el9_2.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:emacs-terminal | 1:26.1-11.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:emacs | 1:26.1-11.el8 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:emacs | 24.3-25.12.1 · SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:emacs | 27.2-150400.3.6.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
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.
No dated events beyond publication.
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
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- 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
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- 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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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
- git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/commit/?id=01a4035c869b91c153af9a9132c87adb7669ea1c
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00008.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FLPQ4K6H2S5TY3L5UDN4K4B3L5RQJYQ6/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U6HDBUQNAH2WL4MHWCTUZLN7NGF7CHTK/
- www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5360
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.