Path Traversal Vulnerability in Vim's Tar Plugin Affects Open Source Text Editor

CVE-2025-53905

What is CVE-2025-53905?

Vim, the popular open-source command line text editor, is affected by a path traversal vulnerability in its tar.vim plugin. Prior to version 9.1.1552, this vulnerability allows users to overwrite arbitrary files when opening malformed tar archives. While the impact is considered low since it requires user interaction, successful exploitation can lead to serious consequences, such as overwriting sensitive files or executing arbitrary code depending on the permissions granted to the process. Users need to be cautious when editing files using Vim, as unique file names and content may indicate malicious activity. Version 9.1.1552 includes important patches to mitigate this risk.

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