Emacs: arbitrary code execution

Emacs

Emacs 31.1 vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via .dir-locals.el files

Do this now

No source names a fix yet: limit who can reach Emacs until one does.

First seen: 11 Nov 2026
Last update: 11 Nov 2026, 16:19 UTC
Source: news

Check this repository for exposure to one security incident from pwned.coffee. Report first, change nothing until I say so.

## Emacs: arbitrary code execution
Severity: unknown. Patch status: fix status unknown.
Affected: Emacs

Emacs 31.1 vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via .dir-locals.el files

## Steps
1. Search the repo, its CI and infra config for Emacs. If present, report the version in use and whether it's affected.
2. No source names a fix yet; check the vendor advisory. Until one ships: restrict network access to it.

## Report
A table: file, product or package, version in use, affected yes/no, exact fix. Then anything a human has to check outside the repo.

If you have the pwned.coffee MCP server (https://pwned.coffee/mcp), call lookup_cve for the latest, and check_repo with this repo's lockfiles, Dockerfiles and workflows for a full receipt.
Sources: https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2026/q4/656
https://pwned.coffee/i/emacs-arbitrary-code-execution

Timeline

11 Nov 2026, 16:19 UTC
Fix status: partial fix → unknown.
11 Nov 2026
First reported.

Receipt

Exploitation: No known exploitation
Score: No CVSS published yet: severity unknown.
Last checked: 13 Nov 2026, 16:26 UTC

Sources: KEV – CVE record – Vendor –

Sources

seclists.org: Emacs .dir-locals.el arbitrary code execution

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