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CVE-2026-73625: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') in gitpython-developers GitPython

0
High
Published: 08/14/2026 (08/14/2026, 09:45:06 UTC)
Source: CVE Database V5
Vendor/Project: gitpython-developers
Product: GitPython

Description

## Summary GitPython's `check_unsafe_options` guard (the control introduced by CVE-2026-42215 / GHSA-2f96 and hardened since) can be bypassed for **every** guarded method (`clone`/`clone_from`, `fetch`/`pull`/`push`, `ls_remote`, `iter_commits`, `blame`, `archive`) by smuggling an option token inside the VALUE of a single-character kwarg. In the default `allow_unsafe_options=False` configuration this yields arbitrary command execution via `--upload-pack`. ## Root Cause The guard builds its candidate option list from kwarg KEYS only: `_option_candidates([], {"n":"--upload-pack=<cmd>"})` returns `['-n']` (cmd.py:1042-1046 derives the candidate from the key, never the value). `-n` is not on the denylist, so `check_unsafe_options` passes. But `transform_kwarg('n', value, split_single_char_options=True)` (cmd.py:1600-1606) emits **two** argv tokens `['-n', '--upload-pack=<cmd>']`. git then parses the second token as `--upload-pack` and executes the attacker-supplied command. The guard never inspects the value that becomes a separate argv token. ## Impact Arbitrary OS command execution as the host process (via `--upload-pack`) in the default configuration, affecting all guarded methods since they all build candidates through the name-only `_option_candidates`. ## Proof of Concept ```python from git import Repo Repo.clone_from(bare_repo, out_dir, n="--upload-pack=touch /tmp/ACE;git-upload-pack") # /tmp/ACE created -> ACE. Direct-name form upload_pack="..." is correctly BLOCKED. ``` File-write variant on a guarded revision command: `iter_commits('HEAD', g='--output=/path')` -> candidate `['-g']` passes, argv `['-g','--output=/path']`, victim file truncated. ## Attack Chain 1. Entry: app forwards a user-supplied options dict -> `Repo.clone_from(url, path, n="--upload-pack=touch /tmp/ACE;git-upload-pack")`. Guard: `check_unsafe_options(options=_option_candidates([], kwargs), unsafe=unsafe_git_clone_options)` at base.py. Bypass proof: `_option_candidates([], {"n":"--upload-pack=..."})` -> `['-n']` (key-only), not on denylist -> no UnsafeOptionError (verified live). 2. Transform: `transform_kwarg('n', value, split_single_char_options=True)` -> `['-n', '--upload-pack=touch /tmp/ACE;git-upload-pack']`. Guard: none (guard already passed on name-only candidate). Bypass proof: verified transform emits two tokens. 3. Sink: `git clone -n --upload-pack='touch ...;git-upload-pack' -- <src> <dst>`; git parses and runs the second token. Impact: ACE (marker created, verified end-to-end). ## Bypass Evidence Live-verified on HEAD (tag 3.1.53): `_option_candidates` returns key-only candidate `['-n']`; `transform_kwargs` emits the smuggled `--upload-pack=` token; clone_from with the payload created the marker file; the direct-name `upload_pack=` form raised UnsafeOptionError. All prior bypasses (GHSA-rpm5 underscore key, GHSA-2f96 long-option abbreviation, GHSA-v396 joined short option, GHSA-x2qx multi-before-split) are BLOCKED on HEAD — this is a distinct kwarg-value->separate-token vector. ## Affected Versions `<= 3.1.53` ## Suggested Fix Make `_option_candidates` also emit candidates derived from single-character kwarg VALUES when `split_single_char_options` is in effect, OR run `check_unsafe_options` over the fully-transformed argv rather than the reconstructed name-only candidate list. --- Reported by **zx (Jace)** — GitHub: @manus-use

CVSS v4.0

Score 8.7high

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vuln. Confidentiality
High
Vuln. Integrity
High
Vuln. Availability
High
Subsq. Confidentiality
None
Subsq. Integrity
None
Subsq. Availability
None
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Affected software

gitpython-developers

GitPython

Affected versions
>=0 <3.1.54
gitpython
pkg:pypi/gitpython
Affected versions
<3.1.54

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AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 08/13/2026, 12:57:08 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-73625 is an OS command injection vulnerability in GitPython prior to version 3.1.54. The vulnerability arises because the check_unsafe_options guard can be bypassed by embedding git options within single-character keyword argument values. This allows attackers to supply specially crafted option dictionaries to methods such as clone_from, fetch, pull, push, ls_remote, iter_commits, blame, or archive, resulting in arbitrary OS command execution through the --upload-pack parameter.

Potential Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote code execution with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. The attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands on the system running the vulnerable GitPython version, potentially leading to full system compromise or unauthorized actions.

Mitigation Recommendations

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix or patch is released, avoid using vulnerable GitPython versions in untrusted environments or restrict usage to trusted inputs only.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.2
Assigner Short Name
VulnCheck
Date Reserved
2026-08-13T11:17:25.160Z
Cvss Version
4.0
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 6a7dbdfdbf8831d5393226cd

Added to database: 08/13/2026, 12:52:13 UTC

Last enriched: 08/13/2026, 12:57:08 UTC

Last updated: 09/28/2026, 13:47:47 UTC

Views: 57

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