CVE-2023-46246 Integer Overflow in :history command in Vim

Medium 4.0 Published 27 Oct 2023 Updated 23 Jun 2026

An integer overflow in Vim's history command leads to a use-after-free, potentially allowing code execution or crashes.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2023-46246?

CVE-2023-46246 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 27 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Vim is an improved version of the good old UNIX editor Vi. Heap-use-after-free in memory allocated in the function `ga_grow_inner` in in the file `src/alloc.c` at line 748, which is freed in the file `src/ex_docmd.c` in the function `do_cmdline` at line 1010 and then used again in `src/cmdhist.c` at line 759. When using the `:history` command, it's possible that the provided argument overflows the accepted value. Causing an Integer Overflow and potentially later an use-after-free. This vulnerability has been patched in version 9.0.2068.

Weakness: CWE-416, CWE-190

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-46246?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Vim Vim.

How do I fix CVE-2023-46246?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2023-46246 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-46246 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Vim Vim vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as AZL-31702, BELL-CVE-2023-46246, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-46246, ECHO-2fe5-91ae-2460, GHSA-q22m-h7m2-9mgm, MGASA-2023-0314 and 2 more.