// For flags

CVE-2022-48337

emacs: command execution via shell metacharacters

Severity Score

9.8
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Attend
*SSVC
Descriptions

GNU Emacs through 28.2 allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file, because lib-src/etags.c uses the system C library function in its implementation of the etags program. For example, a victim may use the "etags -u *" command (suggested in the etags documentation) in a situation where the current working directory has contents that depend on untrusted input.

A flaw was found in the Emacs package. This flaw allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file.

It was discovered that Emacs incorrectly handled input sanitization. An attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary commands. This issue only affected Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. Xi Lu discovered that Emacs incorrectly handled input sanitization. An attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary commands. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Attend
Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2023-02-20 CVE Reserved
  • 2023-02-20 CVE Published
  • 2025-03-18 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-30 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
  • CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Gnu
Search vendor "Gnu"
 Emacs
Search vendor "Gnu" for product "Emacs"
 <= 28.2
Search vendor "Gnu" for product "Emacs" and version " <= 28.2"
-
Affected
Debian
Search vendor "Debian"
 Debian Linux
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux"
 11.0
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux" and version "11.0"
-
Affected