CVE-2008-3075

CVE-2008-3075 is a critical-severity vulnerability in 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-94.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (90th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-94
• Affected product: 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 ZIP archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a ZIP archive, which is not properly handled by zip.vim in the VIM ZIP plugin (zipPlugin.vim) v.11 through v.21, as demonstrated by the zipplugin and zipplugin.v2 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-2008-3074. 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-2008-3075?

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 ZIP archive and possibly (2) the filename of the first file in a ZIP archive, which is not properly handled by zip.vim in the VIM ZIP plugin (zipPlugin.vim) v.11 through v.21, as demonstrated by the zipplugin and zipplugin.v2 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-2008-3074. 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-2008-3075?

CVE-2008-3075 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-3075 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (90th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-3075?

CVE-2008-3075 primarily affects Vim. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-3075?

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-2008-3075 published?

CVE-2008-3075 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.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0580.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32463
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=467432
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10246

Affected products (17)

• 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:vim:7.2a.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vim:zipplugin.vim:v.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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