CVE-2023-1175 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-131, indicating an incorrect calculation of buffer size within the vim text editor prior to version 9.0.1378. This flaw arises from improper handling of memory allocation for buffers, which can lead to buffer overflow conditions. Buffer overflows can allow attackers to overwrite adjacent memory, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or denial of service. The CVSS 3.0 score of 7.3 (High) reflects that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), some privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning an attacker could fully compromise the system. No public exploits are known yet, but the vulnerability is serious given vim’s widespread use in Unix-like environments for editing code and configuration files. The flaw was identified and published on March 4, 2023, with no patch links provided in the data, but the fixed version is 9.0.1378 or later. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user systems where untrusted users have shell access and can invoke vim, potentially leading to local privilege escalation or system compromise.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a significant risk especially in sectors relying heavily on Linux/Unix systems where vim is a default or preferred text editor. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system integrity breaches, and service disruptions. Development environments, servers, and administrative workstations are at risk if local users with limited privileges can exploit the flaw to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code. This could result in data leaks, defacement, or ransomware deployment. The impact is heightened in organizations with lax local user controls or where vim is used in automated scripts or CI/CD pipelines. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, organizations could face regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The lack of known exploits provides a window for proactive patching and mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

1. Immediately upgrade vim to version 9.0.1378 or later where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of exploitation. 3. Monitor and audit local user activities for unusual vim usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Implement application whitelisting or sandboxing for vim to limit its ability to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive resources. 5. Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted files in vim, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 6. Review and harden system configurations to prevent unauthorized local access, including disabling unnecessary accounts and enforcing strong authentication. 7. Integrate vulnerability scanning and patch management processes to ensure timely updates of vim and related software. 8. Consider alternative text editors with a smaller attack surface in high-security environments until the patch is applied.