# CVE-2008-3294: Race condition in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code during Vim builds with Python support by exploiting a race condition in temporary file permissions.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Jul 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2p55-mr3x-rqxj

## What is CVE-2008-3294?

CVE-2008-3294 is a low-severity vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 24 Jul 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

src/configure.in in Vim 5.0 through 7.1, when used for a build with Python support, does not ensure that the Makefile-conf temporary file has the intended ownership and permissions, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code by modifying this file during a time window, or by creating it ahead of time with permissions that prevent its modification by configure.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-3294?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vim Vim.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-3294?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-3294 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-3294 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3294 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Vim Vim

- [CVE-2020-20703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-20703/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-6349](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6349/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-6350](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6350/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-5953](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5953/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2008-3075](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3075/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-3294 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-3294 is a low-severity vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 24 Jul 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3294 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Vim Vim. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3294/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3294/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3294
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3294
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-3294

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3294/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.