CVE-2023-27985: gnu emacs OS Command Injection
CVSS: 7.8v3.1HighModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2023-27985DEBIAN-CVE-2023-27985
Published 09-03-2023Last modified 05-03-2025
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2023-27985 is a high (CVSS 7.8) OS Command Injection vulnerability in gnu emacs. EPSS estimates a 1.08% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 64.7% of scored vulnerabilities.
CVSS score
7.8/10
010
High · v3.1 (CVE.org)EPSS score
1.08%
0%100%
Low · -0.01 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 1 · Related 1Timeline
- 09-03-2023PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 05-03-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
emacsclient-mail.desktop in Emacs 28.1 through 28.2 is vulnerable to shell command injections through a crafted mailto: URI. This is related to lack of compliance with the Desktop Entry Specification. It is fixed in 29.0.90
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 4 sources · 1 versionHigh 7.8Preferred score · CVE.org (CNA)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSourcesAll 4 agree
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- NVDNIST7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
1.08%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
65%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
-0.01 pp
From 1.09% on 22-09-2026
22-09-202622-10-2026
EPSS score1.08%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Ubuntu2 products
- xemacs21All versions (No fix recorded)
- xemacs21-packagesAll versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
- emacs< 1:28.2+1-13
Gnu1 product
- emacs≥ 28.1, ≤ 28.2
3 vendors · 4 products
