# CVE-2025-53906: Vim has path traversal issue with zip.vim and special crafted zip archives

> Attackers can overwrite arbitrary files and potentially execute code by tricking users into opening malicious zip archives in Vim.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Jul 2025
- **Updated:** 1 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-65333, AZL-65516, BELL-CVE-2025-53906, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-53906, ECHO-00dd-25a0-cd71, GHSA-r2fw-9cw4-mj86, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-53906, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-53906

## What is CVE-2025-53906?

CVE-2025-53906 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 15 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1551, a path traversal issue in Vim’s zip.vim plugin can allow overwriting of arbitrary files when opening specially crafted zip archives. Impact is low because this exploit requires direct user interaction. However, successfully exploitation can lead to overwriting sensitive files or placing executable code in privileged locations, depending on the permissions of the process editing the archive. The victim must edit such a file using Vim which will reveal the filename and the file content, a careful user may suspect some strange things going on. Successful exploitation could results in the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. Version 9.1.1551 contains a patch for the vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-53906?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vim Vim.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-53906?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-53906 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-53906 exists.

## 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-2025-53906 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-53906 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 15 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-53906 exists.

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-2025-53906/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-53906/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-53906
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53906
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53906

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-53906/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.