// For flags

CVE-2024-53920

emacs: arbitrary code execution via Lisp macro expansion

Severity Score

7.8
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Attend
*SSVC
Descriptions

In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs through 30.0.92, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code can trigger unsafe Lisp macro expansion that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. (This unsafe expansion also occurs if a user chooses to enable on-the-fly diagnosis that byte compiles untrusted Emacs Lisp source code.)

In elisp-mode.el in GNU Emacs before 30.1, a user who chooses to invoke elisp-completion-at-point (for code completion) on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code can trigger unsafe Lisp macro expansion that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. (This unsafe expansion also occurs if a user chooses to enable on-the-fly diagnosis that byte compiles untrusted Emacs Lisp source code.)

A flaw was found in Emacs. Viewing or editing an untrusted Emacs Lisp source code file can cause arbitrary code execution due to unsafe macro expansion when a user has configured elisp-completion-at-point for code completion or has enabled automatic error checking, such as Flymake or Flycheck.

An update for emacs is now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support. Issues addressed include a code execution vulnerability.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
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
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Attend
Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-11-25 CVE Reserved
  • 2024-11-27 CVE Published
  • 2025-03-13 CVE Updated
  • 2025-08-13 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Gnu
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 Emacs
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*-
Affected
Amazon
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 Linux
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*-
Affected
Debian
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 Debian Linux
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Affected
Freebsd
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 Freebsd
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Affected
Opensuse
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 Leap
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Affected
Redhat
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 Enterprise Linux
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Affected
Slackware
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 Slackware Linux
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*-
Affected
Suse
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 Sle-module-basesystem
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Affected
Suse
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 Sle-module-desktop-applications
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Affected
Suse
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 Sle Hpc-espos
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Affected
Suse
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 Sle Hpc-ltss
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Affected
Suse
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 Sle Hpc
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Affected
Suse
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 Sled
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Affected
Suse
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 Sles-ltss
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Affected
Suse
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 Sles
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Affected
Suse
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 Sles Sap
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Affected
Suse
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 Suse-manager-proxy
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Affected
Suse
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 Suse-manager-server
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Affected