Joe text editor follows symbolic links when creating a rescue copy called DEADJOE during an abnormal exit, which allows local users to overwrite the files of other users whose joe session crashes.

Joe text editor 2.8 searches the current working directory (CWD) for the .joerc configuration file, which could allow local users to gain privileges of other users by placing a Trojan Horse .joerc file into a directory, then waiting for users to execute joe from that directory.

Joe text editor 2.8 through 2.9.7 does not remove the group and user setuid bits for backup files, which could allow local users to execute arbitrary setuid and setgid root programs when root edits scripts owned by other users.