CVE-2008-3074

CVE-2008-3074 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Vim Tar.vim with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-78.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (89th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-78
• Affected product: Vim Tar.vim
• Published: 2009-02-21
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation point) shell metacharacter in (1) the filename of a tar archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a tar archive, which is not properly handled by the VIM TAR plugin (tar.vim) v.10 through v.22, as demonstrated by the shellescape, tarplugin.v2, tarplugin, and tarplugin.updated test cases. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-2712. NOTE: this issue has the same root cause as CVE-2008-3075. NOTE: due to the complexity of the associated disclosures and the incomplete information related to them, there may be inaccuracies in this CVE description and in external mappings to this identifier.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3074?

The shellescape function in Vim 7.0 through 7.2, including 7.2a.10, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via the "!" (exclamation point) shell metacharacter in (1) the filename of a tar archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a tar archive, which is not properly handled by the VIM TAR plugin (tar.vim) v.10 through v.22, as demonstrated by the shellescape, tarplugin.v2, tarplugin, and tarplugin.updated test cases. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-2712. NOTE: this issue has the same root cause as CVE-2008-3075. NOTE: due to the complexity of the associated disclosures and the incomplete information related to them, there may be inaccuracies in this CVE description and in external mappings to this identifier.

How severe is CVE-2008-3074?

CVE-2008-3074 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-3074 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-3074?

CVE-2008-3074 primarily affects Vim Tar.vim. In total, 18 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-3074?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2008-3074 published?

CVE-2008-3074 was published on 2009-02-21 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=506919
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-03/msg00004.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121494431426308&w=2
• http://secunia.com/advisories/34418
• http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0324
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:236
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/07/4
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/08/12
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/10/7
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/13/1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/07/15/4
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/08/01/1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/20/2
• http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim-shellescape.html
• http://www.rdancer.org/vulnerablevim.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0580.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32462
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=467428
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10754

Affected products (18)

• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:tar.vim:v.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.1.266:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.1.314:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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