# CVE-2022-48337: Command injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in source file names when using the etags tool in GNU Emacs.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 18 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-13702, DEBIAN-CVE-2022-48337, GHSA-8hw9-jqh3-h2rx, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-48337

## What is CVE-2022-48337?

CVE-2022-48337 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

GNU Emacs through 28.2 allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file, because lib-src/etags.c uses the system C library function in its implementation of the etags program. For example, a victim may use the "etags -u *" command (suggested in the etags documentation) in a situation where the current working directory has contents that depend on untrusted input.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-48337?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Gnu Emacs.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-48337?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-48337 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-48337 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-48337 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-48337 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-48337 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2022-48337/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-48337/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-48337
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-48337
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-48337

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-48337/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.