CVE-2026-44656 Vim: OS Command Injection via 'path' completion
An attacker can execute arbitrary shell commands by crafting a file with malicious modelines that trigger command injection during Vim's :find completion.
- 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
What is CVE-2026-44656?
CVE-2026-44656 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 8 May 2026. 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 9.2.0435, an OS command injection vulnerability exists in Vim's :find command-line completion. When the path option contains backtick-enclosed shell commands, those commands are executed during file name completion. Because the path option lacks the P_SECURE flag, it can be set from a modeline, allowing an attacker who controls the contents of a file to execute arbitrary shell commands when the user opens that file in Vim and triggers :find completion. This issue has been patched in version 9.2.0435.
Weakness: CWE-78
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-44656?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Vim Vim.
How do I fix CVE-2026-44656?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2026-44656 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-44656 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Vim Vim
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-44656, AZL-86249, BELL-CVE-2026-44656, CLSA-2026-1779806430, CLSA-2026-1779821440, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-44656 and 3 more.