Gitpython
CVE-2023-41040
MEDIUM
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 6.5 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in pypi
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. In order to resolve some git references, GitPython reads files from the .git directory, in some places the name of the file being read is provided by the user, GitPython doesn't check if this file is located outside the .git directory. This allows an attacker to make GitPython read any file from the system. This vulnerability is present in https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/refs/symbolic.py#L174-L175. That code joins the base directory with a user given string without checking if the final path is located outside the base directory. This vulnerability cannot be used to read the contents of files but could in theory be used to trigger a denial of service for the program. This issue has been addressed in version 3.1.37. Affected products include: Gitpython Project Gitpython. Version information: version 3.1.37..
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. In order to resolve some git references, GitPython reads files from the .git directory, in some places the name of the file being read is provided by the user, GitPython doesn't check if this file is located outside the .git directory. This allows an attacker to make GitPython read any file from the system. This vulnerability is present in https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/refs/symbolic.py#L174-L175. That code joins the base directory with a user given string without checking if the final path is located outside the base directory. This vulnerability cannot be used to read the contents of files but could in theory be used to trigger a denial of service for the program. This issue has been addressed in version 3.1.37.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
GitHub
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
All versions of package gitpython are vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) due to improper user input validation, w
Arbitrary code execution in GitPython before 3.1.59 arises from unsafe re-serialization of multi-line, quoted git-config
Command injection in GitPython before 3.1.51 allows low-privileged attackers to bypass the `check_unsafe_options` blockl
Command injection and arbitrary file overwrite in GitPython before 3.1.51 expose applications that pass attacker-control
Arbitrary directory creation and potential hook-based code execution in GitPython affects all releases before 3.1.59. Th
Environment variable exfiltration in GitPython before 3.1.52 allows any attacker who controls a URL passed to `Repo.clon
GitPython before 3.1.59 discloses local file content through exception messages when parsing .gitmodules files that cont
GitPython is a python library used to interact with Git repositories. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability
Arbitrary file read in GitPython before 3.1.59 allows low-privileged remote attackers to exfiltrate sensitive files by s
Arbitrary file read in GitPython versions before 3.1.59 exposes sensitive filesystem content to low-privileged network a
GitPython before 3.1.32 does not block insecure non-multi options in clone and clone_from. Rated critical severity (CVSS
Command execution in GitPython 3.1.50 arises because its default unsafe-option gate fails to recognize joined short-opti
Exploit-DB