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MEDIUM

CVE-2025-53905

Vim has path traversial issue with tar.vim and special crafted tar files

CVSS v3

4.1

MEDIUM

EPSS Score

0.3 %

exploit probability, as of 2026-10-15

CISA KEV

No

known exploited

Exploitation

poc

SSVC status

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Affected and fixed versions

Packages from OSV.dev and products from the vendors' CSAF advisories.

version not verifiedVersions not verified: read as OSV.dev and the vendors publish them, not checked against each vendor's release list.

Packages

  • vim-X11AlmaLinux:9all versions · fixed in 2:8.2.2637-23.el9_7and 4 other packages
  • vim-X11AlmaLinux:8all versions · fixed in 2:8.0.1763-21.el8_10and 4 other packages
  • xxdAlmaLinux:10all versions · fixed in 2:9.1.083-6.el10_1and 6 other packages

Vendor advisories

  • CVE-2025-53905 Red Hat Product Security422 products fixed · 14 known affected

    vim: Vim path traversial

    vim-X11 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · vim-common as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · vim-enhanced as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

  • RHSA-2026:3462 Red Hat Product Security1 product fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (ROCm)

  • RHSA-2026:3461 Red Hat Product Security2 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (CUDA)

  • RHSA-2025:23080 Red Hat Product Security2 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat AI Inference Server Model Optimization Tools 3.2.2 (CUDA)

  • RHSA-2025:23079 Red Hat Product Security1 product fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (ROCm)

  • RHSA-2025:23078 Red Hat Product Security2 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (CUDA)

10 more advisories

Full record on NVD

Description

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1552, a path traversal issue in Vim’s tar.vim plugin can allow overwriting of arbitrary files when opening specially crafted tar archives. Impact is low because this exploit requires direct user interaction. However, successfully exploitation can lead to overwriting sensitive files or placing executable code in privileged locations, depending on the permissions of the process editing the archive. The victim must edit such a file using Vim which will reveal the filename and the file content, a careful user may suspect some strange things going on. Successful exploitation could results in the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. Version 9.1.1552 contains a patch for the vulnerability.

Technical details

CVSS v3 Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
Published
2025-07-15
Last Modified
2025-11-04

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-53905?

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Prior to version 9.1.1552, a path traversal issue in Vim’s tar.vim plugin can allow overwriting of arbitrary files when opening specially crafted tar archives. Impact is low because this exploit requires direct user interaction. However, successfully exploitation can lead to overwriting sensitive files or placing executable code in privileged locations, depending on the permissions of the process editing the archive. The victim must edit such a file using Vim which will reveal the filename and the file content, a careful user may suspect some strange things going on. Successful exploitation could results in the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. Version 9.1.1552 contains a patch for the vulnerability.

Is CVE-2025-53905 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit exists for CVE-2025-53905, but active exploitation has not been confirmed at this time.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-53905?

CVE-2025-53905 has a CVSS v3 base score of 4.1 (MEDIUM severity), with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L.

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