CVE-2021-22195Public exploit

Code execution via repository-local git.exe search hijacking

Published Apr 1, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Code execution in GitLab for VS Code 3.15.0 and earlier allows attackers to run a malicious git.exe by opening a cloned repository. On Windows, the extension starts git without resolving a trusted executable path, so process lookup selects a repository-local git.exe before PATH entries. Exploitation requires a user to clone and open an attacker-controlled repository, after which the binary runs with the user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability1.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in GitLab for VS Code 3.15.0 and earlier allows attackers to run a malicious git.exe by opening a cloned repository. On Windows, the extension starts git without resolving a trusted executable path, so process lookup selects a repository-local git.exe before PATH entries. Exploitation requires a user to clone and open an attacker-controlled repository, after which the binary runs with the user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22195
Published
Apr 1, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab for VS Code
Classifications
CWE-427, T1204.002, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 1, 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=<=3.15.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLab for VS Codeversion=<=3.15.0

Published CVSS scores

8.6GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

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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