CVE-2021-29468Network attack vector

Code execution via unchecked backslash path equivalence

Published Apr 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path-equivalence flaws in Cygwin Git before 2.31.1-2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted repository. The checkout path validator in read-cache.c rejects backslashes only for GIT_WINDOWS_NATIVE builds, not CYGWIN, allowing backslash names and symlinks to overwrite arbitrary files, including Git hooks. Exploitation requires a user to clone or check out an untrusted repository, after which attacker-controlled hook contents run as that user.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path-equivalence flaws in Cygwin Git before 2.31.1-2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted repository. The checkout path validator in read-cache.c rejects backslashes only for GIT_WINDOWS_NATIVE builds, not CYGWIN, allowing backslash names and symlinks to overwrite arbitrary files, including Git hooks. Exploitation requires a user to clone or check out an untrusted repository, after which attacker-controlled hook contents run as that user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29468
Published
Apr 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
me-and
Product
Cygwin Git
Classifications
CWE-41, CWE-1289, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 29, 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=< 2.31.1-2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

me-and · Cygwin Gitversion=< 2.31.1-2

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-41Improper Resolution of Path Equivalence
CWE-1289Improper Validation of Unsafe Equivalence in Input
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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