How severe is CVE-2024-53920?

CVE-2024-53920 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2024-53920 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (41st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-53920?

CVE-2024-53920 affects Gnu Emacs. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-53920?

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

Does CVE-2024-53920 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-53920 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-52189.

When was CVE-2024-53920 published?

CVE-2024-53920 was published on 2024-11-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-53920

CVE-2024-53920 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Emacs with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. 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: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (41st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-52189
Weakness: CWE-94
Affected product: Gnu Emacs
Published: 2024-11-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs before 30.1, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code can trigger unsafe Lisp macro expansion that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. (This unsafe expansion also occurs if a user chooses to enable on-the-fly diagnosis that byte compiles untrusted Emacs Lisp source code.)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-53920?: In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs before 30.1, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code can trigger unsafe Lisp macro expansion that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. (This unsafe expansion also occurs if a user chooses to enable on-the-fly diagnosis that byte compiles untrusted Emacs Lisp source code.)
How severe is CVE-2024-53920?: CVE-2024-53920 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-53920 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (41st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-53920?: CVE-2024-53920 affects Gnu Emacs. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-53920?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2024-53920 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-53920 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-52189.
When was CVE-2024-53920 published?: CVE-2024-53920 was published on 2024-11-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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