CVE-2026-73078 Vim: Arbitrary Code Execution via Netrw Menu Construction
Attackers can execute arbitrary commands in GUI Vim by crafting directory paths that exploit insufficient escaping in netrw menu construction.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-73078?
CVE-2026-73078 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Vim Vim, published on 11 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, 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 9.2.0840, runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim loads netrw and runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/autoload/netrw.vim constructs Bookmarks, History, and Targets menu entries by interpolating attacker-controlled directory paths into executed :menu commands. s:NetrwBookmarkMenu(), s:NetrwTgtMenu(), g:netrw_menu_escape, EX_TRLBAR, and netrw#MakeTgt() fail to neutralize the | command separator or single quotes at five construction sites, allowing a crafted path browsed or bookmarked in GUI Vim to execute arbitrary Ex and operating-system commands. This issue is fixed in version 9.2.0840.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-73078?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Vim Vim.
How do I fix CVE-2026-73078?
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-2026-73078 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-73078 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Vim Vim
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-73078, AZL-95550, BELL-CVE-2026-73078, CLEANSTART-2026-PK02835, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-73078, ECHO-8f7e-f3aa-86b0 and 5 more.