CVE-2026-73071 Vim: Use-after-free in JSON Decoding
A use-after-free vulnerability in Vim's JSON decoder allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a crash via crafted JSON input.
- 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
What is CVE-2026-73071?
CVE-2026-73071 is a low-severity use after free vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 11 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Vim is an open source, command line text editor. From 9.2.0511 until 9.2.0844, json_decode_item() in src/json.c can retain a stale pointer after json_decode_string() invokes channel_fill() to refill and free the current buffer, causing the error path to read freed memory instead of reader->js_buf + reader->js_used when an invalid JSON string spans buffers. This issue is fixed in version 9.2.0844.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-73071?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Vim Vim.
How do I fix CVE-2026-73071?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
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-2026-73071 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-73071 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Vim Vim
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-73071, AZL-95976, BELL-CVE-2026-73071, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-73071, GHSA-69ch-22ch-r887, MINI-p4pr-gx4f-g6v3 and 1 more.