CVE-2024-53920: Code Injection

Published Nov 27, 2024
·
Updated

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.)

Other sources

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.)

Red Hat

Affected Software

4 affected componentsFixes available
GNU Emacs<30.1
GNU Emacs<30.1
Microsoft cbl2 emacs 29.4-3<29.4-3
29.4-3
Microsoft azl3 emacs 29.4-3<29.4-3
29.4-3

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 29.4-3
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade GNU Emacs elisp-mode.el (elisp-completion-at-point) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 30.1

Event History

Nov 27, 2024
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·03:01 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Mar 25, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Feb 17, 58111
Event
via Microsoft·01:13 AM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-53920?

CVE-2024-53920 has been classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its ability to allow arbitrary code execution through unsafe Lisp macro expansion.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-53920?

To fix CVE-2024-53920, users should update GNU Emacs to version 30.0.93 or later, where the issue has been resolved.

3

What software versions are affected by CVE-2024-53920?

CVE-2024-53920 affects GNU Emacs versions up to and including 30.0.92.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2024-53920?

CVE-2024-53920 is a code execution vulnerability that arises from unsafe macro expansion in Emacs Lisp.

5

Who is vulnerable to CVE-2024-53920?

Any user of GNU Emacs versions 30.0.92 or earlier who uses elisp-completion-at-point on untrusted Emacs Lisp source code is vulnerable to CVE-2024-53920.

Contact

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