CVE-2021-21237

Arbitrary code execution via current-directory Git binary

Published Jan 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in GitHub Git LFS before 2.13.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code from a malicious repository. Several command-launch paths pass the bare name git to Go's os/exec package, which on Windows prefers a matching git.bat or git.exe in the working directory. Exploitation requires a user to operate Git LFS inside an attacker-controlled repository on Windows, and the substituted program runs with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path handling in GitHub Git LFS before 2.13.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code from a malicious repository. Several command-launch paths pass the bare name git to Go's os/exec package, which on Windows prefers a matching git.bat or git.exe in the working directory. Exploitation requires a user to operate Git LFS inside an attacker-controlled repository on Windows, and the substituted program runs with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21237
Published
Jan 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Twitter
Product
Git LFS
Classifications
CWE-426, T1204.002, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 15, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 2.13.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Twitter · Git LFSversion=< 2.13.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1204.002Malicious File
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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