cruft · GitPython: Arbitrary Git Repository Creation Outside the Working Tree via Unvalidated .gitmodules Submodule Name in
Affects cruftSource GCVE Database
Mentioned vulnerabilities
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.4 High : upgrade to 2.16.0_14 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:41 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 36% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 2.16.0_14
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:LExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Aug 2026
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
Upgrade cruft to 2.16.0_14.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Homebrewcruftpkg:brew/cruftOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available in GitPython version 2.16.0_14 that fixes this vulnerability by adding proper validation of submodule names to prevent directory traversal. Users should upgrade to version 2.16.0_14 or later. Until patched, avoid cloning and initializing submodules from untrusted repositories using GitPython. No other mitigations are specified by the vendor advisory.
Description
GitPython versions from 2.9.0 up to but not including 2.16.0_14 contain a vulnerability where an attacker-controlled submodule name in a cloned repository's .gitmodules file can cause GitPython to create and initialize a Git repository outside the intended working directory. This occurs because GitPython does not validate the submodule name for path traversal sequences, allowing repository creation at arbitrary filesystem locations during submodule initialization. The vulnerability is fixed in version 2.16.0_14.
References
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-hmq2-w58f-27jc (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-76222 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/2202 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/4299c990e1ca21896f9485277caf7bb0ae5b404c (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/e4b8e7d026ca6abb4cf604f8e77093432ce23c06 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/releases/tag/3.1.58 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2026-3784.yaml (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/gitpython-before-path-traversal-via-gitmodules-submodule-name (opens in a new tab)