High [CVE-2026-73077] Arbitrary Code Execution via Insecure Shell Command Handling
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-73077 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat package: vim.
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Summary
Vim is an open source, command line text editor.
Prior to 9.2.0839, the runtime/ftplugin/sh.vim, runtime/ftplugin/zsh.vim, and runtime/ftplugin/ps1.vim filetype plugins pass attacker-controlled Visual-mode selections from K through keywordprg commands without safely separating shell arguments. fnameescape() and PATH_ESC_CHARS do not neutralize shell metacharacters before ShKeywordPrg, ZshKeywordPrg, or GetHelp invokes bash, zsh, or PowerShell, allowing arbitrary operating-system commands to execute with the privileges of the user running Vim.
This issue is fixed in version 9.2.0839. A vulnerability in Vim's shell script plugins (sh.vim, zsh.vim, ps1.vim) allows arbitrary code execution if a user selects maliciously crafted text in Visual mode and triggers a keyword lookup, due to improperly escaped shell metacharacters.
This does not affect RHEL 8 and older versions. Red Hat severity: Important — CVSS 7.3 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Weakness: CWE-78. Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.
Red Hat fixing advisory: RHSA-2026:66336, RHSA-2026:66366.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: vim.
- < 9.2.0839
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 23 days ago·verify at source
- 9.2.0839
- vim-2:9.1.083-9.el10_2.20
- vim-2:8.2.2637-26.el9_8.21
- RHSA-2026:66336
- RHSA-2026:66366
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 23 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- To mitigate this vulnerability, users can disable the `keywordprg` option for shell script filetypes. This prevents Vim from executing external commands via the `K` command with potentially untrusted input. Create or edit the following files in your Vim configuration directory: - `~/.vim/after/ftplugin/sh.vim`: `setlocal keywordprg=` - `~/.vim/after/ftplugin/zsh.vim`: `setlocal keywordprg=` - `~/.vim/after/ftplugin/ps1.vim`: `setlocal keywordprg=` This change takes effect the next time a shell script is opened in Vim.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 23 days ago·verify at source
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