CVE-2025-3509: GitHub Enterprise Server · Code Injection
Affects GitHub Enterprise ServerSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High · fixed in 3.17.1 : patch GitHub Enterprise Server soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 1.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 70% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.17.1
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:L/SI:H/SA:L/AU:N/R:U/V:C/RE:M/U:AmberExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 17 Apr 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Enterprise Server | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
- Immediate upgrade of all GitHub Enterprise Server instances to the fixed versions (3.17.1, 3.16.4, 3.15.8, 3.14.13, or 3.13.16) to eliminate the vulnerability.
- Restrict pre-receive hook configuration permissions strictly to trusted site administrators and audit all existing pre-receive hooks for suspicious or unauthorized scripts.
- Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure of dynamically allocated ports during hot patch upgrades, minimizing the attack surface during vulnerable operational states.
- Monitor logs for unusual activity related to pre-receive hook execution and port usage during upgrade windows.
- Employ strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for site administrators and repository maintainers to reduce the risk of privilege abuse.
- Conduct regular security reviews of DevOps infrastructure and integrate vulnerability scanning for GitHub Enterprise Server versions as part of patch management processes.
- Consider temporary disabling of pre-receive hooks during upgrade windows if operationally feasible to eliminate the attack vector during the limited exposure period.
Description
A Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting the pre-receive hook functionality, potentially leading to privilege escalation and system compromise. The vulnerability involves using dynamically allocated ports that become temporarily available, such as during a hot patch upgrade. This means the vulnerability is only exploitable during specific operational conditions, which limits the attack window. Exploitation required either site administrator permissions to enable and configure pre-receive hooks or a user with permissions to modify repositories containing pre-receive hooks where this functionality was already enabled. This vulnerability affected all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server prior to 3.18 and was fixed in versions 3.17.1, 3.16.4, 3.15.8, 3.14.13, 3.13.16. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.
References
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.13/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.14/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.15/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.16/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)
- docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server@3.17/admin/release-notes (opens in a new tab)