# CVE-2023-2491: Command injection in emacs

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands via crafted org-mode code in Emacs, requiring users to apply vendor patches.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 May 2023
- **Updated:** 22 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2hj6-9wp7-hvmh, RHSA-2023:3104

## What is CVE-2023-2491?

CVE-2023-2491 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 17 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in the Emacs text editor. Processing a specially crafted org-mode code with the "org-babel-execute:latex" function in ob-latex.el can result in arbitrary command execution. This CVE exists because of a CVE-2023-28617 security regression for the emacs package in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2491?

It affects 5 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `emacs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-common` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-common-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-lucid` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-lucid-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-nox` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-nox-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-terminal` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |
| `emacs-filesystem` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 1:26.1-10.el8_8.2 |

Products: Gnu Emacs, Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2491?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-2491 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2491 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux

- [CVE-2007-6109](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-6109/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-39331](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-39331/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-53920](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-53920/): Code injection in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2024-30202](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-30202/): Code injection in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-27985](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27985/): emacsclient-mail.desktop in Emacs 28.1 through 28.2 is vulnerable to shell command injections through a crafted mailto: URI. (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2491 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2491 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 17 May 2023. 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-2023-2491 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise 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-2023-2491/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2491/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2491
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2491
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2491

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2491/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.