Emacs 21.2.1 does not prompt or warn the user before executing Lisp code in the local variables section of a text file, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands, as demonstrated using the mode-name variable.

security flaw

Emacs 20 does not properly set permissions for a slave PTY device when starting a new subprocess, which allows local users to read or modify communications between Emacs and the subprocess.

emacs: arbitrary Lisp code is evaluated as part of turning on Org mode

In Emacs before 29.3, arbitrary Lisp code is evaluated as part of turning on Org mode. This affects Org Mode before 9.6.23.

emacs: Gnus treats inline MIME contents as trusted

In Emacs before 29.3, Gnus treats inline MIME contents as trusted.

emacs: LaTeX preview is enabled by default for e-mail attachments

In Emacs before 29.3, LaTeX preview is enabled by default for e-mail attachments.

emacs: Org mode considers contents of remote files to be trusted

In Emacs before 29.3, Org mode considers contents of remote files to be trusted. This affects Org Mode before 9.6.23.

emacs: ctags local command execution vulnerability

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 ctags program. For example, a victim may use the "ctags *" command (suggested in the ctags documentation) in a situation where the current working directory has contents that depend on untrusted input.

emacs: command injection flaw within "enriched mode" handling

GNU Emacs before 25.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via email with crafted "Content-Type: text/enriched" data containing an x-display XML element that specifies execution of shell commands, related to an unsafe text/enriched extension in lisp/textmodes/enriched.el, and unsafe Gnus support for enriched and richtext inline MIME objects in lisp/gnus/mm-view.el. In particular, an Emacs user can be instantly compromised by reading a crafted email message (or Usenet news article).

emacs: Ignores umask when creating a swap file

GNU Emacs version 25.3.1 (and other versions most likely) ignores umask when creating a backup save file ("[ORIGINAL_FILENAME]~") resulting in files that may be world readable or otherwise accessible in ways not intended by the user running the emacs binary.

Emacs 24.4 allows remote attackers to bypass security restrictions.

emacs: multiple temporary file issues

lisp/gnus/gnus-fun.el in GNU Emacs 24.3 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/gnus.face.ppm temporary file.

emacs: multiple temporary file issues

lisp/emacs-lisp/find-gc.el in GNU Emacs 24.3 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file under /tmp/esrc/.

emacs: multiple temporary file issues

lisp/net/tramp-sh.el in GNU Emacs 24.3 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/tramp.##### temporary file.

emacs: multiple temporary file issues

lisp/net/browse-url.el in GNU Emacs 24.3 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/Mosaic.##### temporary file.

emacs/notmuch-mua.el in Notmuch before 0.11.1, when using the Emacs interface, allows user-assisted remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted MML tags, which are not properly quoted in an email reply cna cause the files to be attached to the message.

emacs: CEDET global-ede-mode file loading vulnerability

Untrusted search path vulnerability in EDE in CEDET before 1.0.1, as used in GNU Emacs before 23.4 and other products, allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted Lisp expression in a Project.ede file in the directory, or a parent directory, of an opened file.

xemacs: Race condition by moving message from user's inbox into user's Rmail file, when movemail setgid enabled

lib-src/movemail.c in movemail in emacs 22 and 23 allows local users to read, modify, or delete arbitrary mailbox files via a symlink attack, related to improper file-permission checks.

emacs: Evaluation of 'eval' forms in file-local variable sections, when 'enable-local-variables' set to ':safe'

lisp/files.el in Emacs 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, and 24.1 automatically executes eval forms in local-variable sections when the enable-local-variables option is set to :safe, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary Emacs Lisp code via a crafted file.

emacs: command injection vulnerability in htmlfontify.el

An issue was discovered in GNU Emacs through 28.2. htmlfontify.el has a command injection vulnerability. In the hfy-istext-command function, the parameter file and parameter srcdir come from external input, and parameters are not escaped. If a file name or directory name contains shell metacharacters, code may be executed.

emacs: local command injection in ruby-mode.el

An issue was discovered in GNU Emacs through 28.2. In ruby-mode.el, the ruby-find-library-file function has a local command injection vulnerability. The ruby-find-library-file function is an interactive function, and bound to C-c C-f. Inside the function, the external command gem is called through shell-command-to-string, but the feature-name parameters are not escaped. Thus, malicious Ruby source files may cause commands to be executed.