cruft · GitPython: Incomplete unsafe_git_archive_options denylist omits --add-file / --add-virtual-file, enabling arbitrary
Affects cruftSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 2.16.0_13 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:44 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 35% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 2.16.0_13
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 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_13.
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 fix is available in GitPython version 2.16.0_13 that extends the denylist to include --add-file and --add-virtual-file options. Users should upgrade to this version or later. Alternatively, embedding applications should restrict or sanitize options passed to Repo.archive() to only allow a small set of safe options. No other mitigation is indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
GitPython's Repo.archive() method uses a denylist to block unsafe git archive options, but this denylist is incomplete. Specifically, the options --add-file and --add-virtual-file are not blocked, allowing an attacker to read arbitrary files on the filesystem or inject arbitrary content into an archive. This vulnerability enables arbitrary file read at the privileges of the process using GitPython. The issue requires that the embedding application forwards caller-controlled options to Repo.archive(). A fix is available in version 2.16.0_13.
References
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-539m-9xh6-q6rr (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/2193 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/7a4f5dcb7bf3cbcbf6e438017efcdfe0bc0d36ca (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/releases/tag/3.1.57 (opens in a new tab)