CVE-2025-1244 is an OS command injection vulnerability discovered in the Emacs text editor, identified as a critical security flaw due to its potential to allow remote code execution. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements in user-controllable inputs, which are then passed to the operating system shell without adequate sanitization. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication by luring a user into visiting a specially crafted website or an HTTP URL that triggers a redirect, which then causes Emacs to execute arbitrary shell commands. This attack vector leverages user interaction but does not require any prior credentials or elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects all versions indicated as '0' in the data, which likely means all current versions at the time of disclosure. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the potential for exploitation is significant given the widespread use of Emacs in various environments, including software development, academic research, and system administration. The vulnerability's root cause is the failure to properly sanitize inputs before passing them to OS commands, a classic injection flaw that can lead to full system compromise if exploited successfully. The lack of vendor or patch information suggests that remediation efforts are either pending or not publicly disclosed at the time of this report.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-1244 can be severe. Emacs is widely used in academic institutions, research centers, and software development companies across Europe. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution, resulting in data theft, system manipulation, or disruption of critical services. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers could access sensitive information stored or processed on affected systems. Integrity could be compromised by unauthorized modification of files or system configurations. Availability may also be affected if attackers execute commands that disrupt or disable services. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the attack increases the threat surface, especially in environments where users frequently access external web resources. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to facilitate exploitation. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly following disclosure. Organizations relying on Emacs for critical workflows should consider this vulnerability a high priority for mitigation to prevent potential breaches.

1. Monitor official Emacs channels and security advisories closely for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-1244 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to systems running Emacs, especially limiting outbound HTTP/HTTPS traffic that could trigger malicious redirects. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization policies where possible, particularly for any web content or URLs processed by Emacs. 4. Educate users about the risks of clicking on untrusted links or visiting suspicious websites, emphasizing the potential for command injection attacks. 5. Employ network security controls such as web filtering and intrusion detection systems to block access to known malicious URLs or domains. 6. Consider running Emacs in sandboxed or containerized environments to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 7. Audit and monitor system logs for unusual command execution patterns or anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. 8. Review and harden system configurations to minimize privileges granted to Emacs processes, reducing the potential damage from successful attacks.