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CVE-2019-12735 is a command execution vulnerability in getchar.c affecting Vim before 8.1.1365 and Neovim before 0.3.6. The issue allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands through use of the :source! command in a modeline. The published description notes exploitation demonstrated via execute in Vim and assert_fails or nvim_input in Neovim. In practical terms, opening or otherwise processing a crafted file containing a malicious modeline can cause the editor to interpret attacker-controlled content in a way that reaches :source! and results in OS command execution.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).
This repository provides a proof-of-concept (POC) exploit for CVE-2019-12735, a vulnerability in Vim and Neovim that allows arbitrary code execution via modelines in text files. The repository contains several files: - `make_demo3.c`: C program that generates a malicious text file (`demo3.txt`) with embedded escape sequences and Vim commands to trigger the exploit. - `demo1.txt` and `demo2.txt`: Example malicious text files. `demo2.txt` contains a payload that establishes a reverse shell to localhost on port 9999 using netcat and a named pipe (`/tmp/f`). - `modeline_demo.py`: Example of a benign modeline. - `Dockerfile`: Sets up a vulnerable environment with Vim 8.1.1364 for testing. - `README.md`: Explains the vulnerability, usage instructions, and references. The exploit works by tricking a user into opening a malicious text file with Vim or Neovim. When the file is opened, the embedded modeline executes shell commands, potentially giving the attacker a reverse shell on the victim's machine. The endpoints involved are the local file `/tmp/f`, the IP address `127.0.0.1` (used in the POC, but can be changed), and TCP port 9999. The exploit is operational and demonstrates real code execution, but is not weaponized for mass exploitation.
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