Use After Free in Vim

CVE-2025-55157

Vim is an open source, command line text editor. In versions from 9.1.1231 to before 9.1.1400, When processing nested tuples in Vim script, an error during evaluation can trigger a use-after-free in Vim’s internal tuple reference management. Specifically, the tuple_unref() function may access already freed memory due to improper lifetime handling, leading to memory corruption. The exploit requires direct user interaction, as the script must be explicitly executed within Vim. This issue has been patched in version 9.1.1400.

Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free

EPSS: 0.003 (27.1th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 8.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected products

  • Vim — versions >= 9.1.1231, < 9.1.1400

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-55157?
CVE-2025-55157 is a high-severity vulnerability in Vim, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 8.8/10. Published 2025-08-11.
How severe is CVE-2025-55157?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.8 out of 10.