Denial of Service Vulnerability in Vim Package: CVE-2017-11109
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-11109: Vim 8.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid free) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted source (aka -S) file. Affects vim versions < 2:7.4.052-1ubuntu3.1+esm1. Fixed in 2:7.4.052-1ubuntu3.1+esm1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Vim is a highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing. It is widely used by developers and system administrators for its powerful features and extensibility. However, Vim has been found to have a vulnerability that allows attackers to exploit certain crafted source files, leading to potential denial of service conditions.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11109 in Vim 8.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid free) or possibly have unspecified other impacts via a crafted source (aka -S) file. This issue arises from improper handling of certain input files, which can lead to memory corruption and application crashes. The severity of this vulnerability is rated with a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a high risk to systems using affected versions of Vim.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2:7.4.052-1ubuntu3.1+esm1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade vimTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid opening crafted source files that may exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, running Vim in a restricted environment or using alternative text editors can mitigate the risk until the package is updated.
Conclusion
The CVE-2017-11109 vulnerability in Vim poses a significant risk, allowing for denial of service attacks through crafted input files. Users are strongly advised to update to the patched version to mitigate this risk. Temporary workarounds are available, but the best course of action is to ensure your software is up to date.
See every vulnerability recorded for vim →
FAQ
CVE-2017-11109 is a vulnerability in Vim that allows attackers to cause a denial of service through crafted source files.
You can check your version of Vim by running 'vim --version' in your terminal. If it is below the patched version, it is vulnerable.
If you cannot update Vim right away, avoid opening suspicious or untrusted source files and consider using alternative text editors.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just a manifest file like package-lock.json.
The CVSS score of CVE-2017-11109 is 7.8, indicating a high severity level.
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