CVE-2023-40590
highpriority · track · 31EPSS 0.005 · 43 %ileDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. When resolving a program, Python/Windows look for the current working directory, and after that the PATH environment. GitPython defaults to use the `git` command, if a user runs GitPython from a repo has a `git.exe` or `git` executable, that program will be run instead of the one in the user's `PATH`. This is more of a problem on how Python interacts with Windows systems, Linux and any other OS aren't affected by this. But probably people using GitPython usually run it from the CWD of a repo. An attacker can trick a user to download a repository with a malicious `git` executable, if the user runs/imports GitPython from that directory, it allows the attacker to run any arbitrary commands. There is no fix currently available for windows users, however there are a few mitigations. 1: Default to an absolute path for the git program on Windows, like `C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.EXE` (default git path installation). 2: Require users to set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` environment variable on Windows systems. 3: Make this problem prominent in the documentation and advise users to never run GitPython from an untrusted repo, or set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` env var to an absolute path. 4: Resolve the executable manually by only looking into the `PATH` environment variable.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (13)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2.4
advisories (3)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2023-2428SaltStack Salt: Mehre SchwachstellenDeutsch2023-09-21csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in SaltStack Salt ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.
- GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4GitPython untrusted search path on Windows systems leading to arbitrary code execution2023-08-29ghsa · osvUS
### Summary When resolving a program, Python/Windows look for the current working directory, and after that the PATH environment (see big warning in https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructor). GitPython defaults to use the `git` command, if a user runs GitPython from a repo has a `git.exe` or `git` executable, that program will be run instead of the one in the user's `PATH`. ### Details This is more of a problem on how Python interacts with Windows systems, Linux and any other OS aren't affected by this. But probably people using GitPython usually run it from the CWD of a repo. The execution of the `git` command happens in https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L277 https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L983-L996 And there are other commands executed that should probably be aware of this problem. ### PoC On a Windows system, create a `git.exe` or `git` executable in any directory, and import or run GitPython from that directory ``` python -c "import git" ``` The git executable from the current directory will be run. ### Impact An attacker can trick a user to download a repository with a malicious `git` executable, if the user runs/imports GitPython from that directory, it allows the attacker to run any arbitrary commands. ### Possible solutions - Default to an absolute path for the git program on Windows, like `C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.EXE` (default git path installation). - Require users to set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` environment variable on Windows systems. - Make this problem prominent in the documentation and advise users to never run GitPython from an untrusted repo, or set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` env var to an absolute path. - Resolve the executable manually by only looking into the `PATH` environment variable (suggested by @Byron) --- > [!NOTE] > This vulnerability was reported via email, and it was decided to publish it here and make it public, so the community is aware of it, and a fix can be provided.
- PYSEC-2023-1612023-08-28vendor · osvUS
GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. When resolving a program, Python/Windows look for the current working directory, and after that the PATH environment. GitPython defaults to use the `git` command, if a user runs GitPython from a repo has a `git.exe` or `git` executable, that program will be run instead of the one in the user's `PATH`. This is more of a problem on how Python interacts with Windows systems, Linux and any other OS aren't affected by this. But probably people using GitPython usually run it from the CWD of a repo. An attacker can trick a user to download a repository with a malicious `git` executable, if the user runs/imports GitPython from that directory, it allows the attacker to run any arbitrary commands. There is no fix currently available for windows users, however there are a few mitigations. 1: Default to an absolute path for the git program on Windows, like `C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.EXE` (default git path installation). 2: Require users to set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` environment variable on Windows systems. 3: Make this problem prominent in the documentation and advise users to never run GitPython from an untrusted repo, or set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` env var to an absolute path. 4: Resolve the executable manually by only looking into the `PATH` environment variable.
also known as (7)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (7)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://cxsecurity.com/cveshow/CVE-2023-40590/cnnvd
- https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructorcnnvd
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4cnnvd
- https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructorenisa_euvd
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4enisa_euvd
- https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructorProductnvd
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4ExploitMitigationVendor Advisorynvd
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