CVE-2026-71556: go-git · Worktree operations may follow symlinks
Affects github.com/go-git/go-git/v5Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 5.19.2 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 29% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.19.2, 6.0.0-alpha.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:LExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 7 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 github.com/go-git/go-git/v5 to 5.19.2; github.com/go-git/go-git/v6 to 6.0.0-alpha.5.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Gogithub.com/go-git/go-git/v5 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| Gogithub.com/go-git/go-git/v6 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
## Impact A symlink traversal issue in `go-git` could allow worktree operations to modify files outside the intended worktree path. The `worktreeFilesystem` wrapper rejected dangerous path strings, including paths containing `.git`, parent-directory components, or control characters. However, it did not prevent filesystem operations from following symbolic links that were already present in the worktree. As a result, a path that is safe when evaluated as a string could still resolve into the repository's Git metadata directory. For example, if `s` is a symbolic link to `.git`, writing to `s/config` would modify `.git/config`. A symbolic link at the final path component could also be followed. For example, if `s` points directly to `.git/config`, opening `s` for writing with truncation could overwrite the repository configuration. Exploitation requires an attacker to be able to introduce or control a symbolic link in the worktree and cause the application to perform a write through that path. Applications using `storage/memory` for their Storer, or `go-billy/memfs` for their `Worktree`, are not affected by this vulnerability. ## Patches The issue has been addressed by making the worktree filesystem wrapper a symlink-safe boundary. Worktree operations now reject paths where an existing symbolic link in any path component could cause the operation to escape the intended worktree location, including symbolic links at the final component. Users of filesystem-backed worktrees should upgrade to a patched version. ### Credits Thanks to @kodareef5 for reporting this issue and working with the go-git security team toward its resolution. :1st_place_medal: We would also like to thank @HughLewis20, who independently reported the same issue while a fix was already in progress.
References
- github.com/go-git/go-git/security/advisories/GHSA-hc8v-wwc9-vgxm (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/go-git/go-git/commit/008a78f2dd86f52544ddff8b8e8ddeecdf3f7aab (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/go-git/go-git/commit/661d1c7f101d34e002a3cfcf8dbea5b7421d07ac (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/go-git/go-git (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/go-git/go-git/releases/tag/v5.19.2 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/go-git/go-git/releases/tag/v6.0.0-alpha.5 (opens in a new tab)