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Vim "helptags" Command Format String Vulnerability
Secunia Advisory: SA25941
Release Date: 2007-07-27
Popularity: 9,903 views

Critical:
Less critical
Impact: System access
Where: From remote
Solution Status: Vendor Workaround

Software:Vim 6.x
Vim 7.x

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CVE reference:CVE-2007-2953


Description:
Secunia Research has discovered a vulnerability in Vim, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a vulnerable system.

A format string error in the "helptags_one()" function in src/ex_cmds.c when running the "helptags" command can be exploited to execute arbitrary code via specially crafted help files.

Successful exploitation requires that the user is tricked into running "helptags" on malicious data.

The vulnerability is confirmed in versions 6.4 and 7.1. Other versions may also be affected.

Solution:
Apply the vendor's official patch:
ftp://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim/patches/7.1/7.1.039

Do not run "helptags" on untrusted data.

Provided and/or discovered by:
Ulf Harnhammar, Secunia Research.

Original Advisory:
Secunia Research:
http://secunia.com/secunia_research/2007-66/advisory/


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