GitPython blind local file inclusion
Summary
In order to resolve some git references, GitPython reads files from the .git directory, in some places the name of the file being read is provided by the user, GitPython doesn't check if this file is located outside the .git directory. This allows an attacker to make GitPython read any file from the system.
Details
This vulnerability is present in
That code joins the base directory with a user given string without checking if the final path is located outside the base directory.
I was able to exploit it from three places, but there may be more code paths that lead to it:
PoC
Running GitPython within any repo should work, here is an example with the GitPython repo.
import git
r = git.Repo(".")
# This will make GitPython read the README.md file from the root of the repo
r.commit("../README.md")
r.tree("../README.md")
r.index.diff("../README.md")
# Reading /etc/random
# WARNING: this will probably halt your system, run with caution
# r.commit("../../../../../../../../../dev/random")Impact
I wasn't able to show the contents of the files (that's why "blind" local file inclusion), depending on how GitPython is being used, this can be used by an attacker for something inoffensive as checking if a file exits, or cause a DoS by making GitPython read a big/infinite file (like /dev/random on Linux systems).
Possible solutions
A solution would be to check that the final path isn't located outside the repodir path (maybe even after resolving symlinks). Maybe there could be other checks in place to make sure that the reference names are valid.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | gitpython | < 3.1.37 | 3.1.37 |
References
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-cwvm-v4w8-q58c
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/refs/symbolic.py#L174-L175
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41040
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/1672
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/74e55ee4544867e1bd976b7df5a45869ee397b0b
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/e98f57b81f792f0f5e18d33ee658ae395f9aa3c4
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/releases/tag/3.1.37
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2023-165.yaml
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/09/msg00036.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00030.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
gitpython- Disclosed
- 30.08.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2023-165 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-cwvm-v4w8-q58c - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: gitpython
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 37
- First → latest
- 12.2022 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 26
- Medium 8
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 3
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 32
-
GitPython blind local file inclusion this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.