CVE-2022-2251Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Command execution via shell-expanded branch names

Published Jan 17, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2025

Command injection in GitLab Runner before 15.3.5, 15.4.0 through 15.4.3, and 15.5.0 through 15.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to run commands. Runner-generated job scripts interpolate a branch name into shell input without neutralizing metacharacters, causing embedded command substitutions to execute. The attacker needs project access to create the branch and must persuade another user to trigger its pipeline; injected commands run with that user's job permissions.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability1.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in GitLab Runner before 15.3.5, 15.4.0 through 15.4.3, and 15.5.0 through 15.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to run commands. Runner-generated job scripts interpolate a branch name into shell input without neutralizing metacharacters, causing embedded command substitutions to execute. The attacker needs project access to create the branch and must persuade another user to trigger its pipeline; injected commands run with that user's job permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-2251
Published
Jan 17, 2023
Updated
Apr 8, 2025
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab Runner
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2025Record 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=<15.3.5
  2. Affected versionversion=>=15.4, <15.4.4
  3. Affected versionversion=>=15.5, <15.5.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLab Runnerversion=<15.3.5; version=>=15.4, <15.4.4; version=>=15.5, <15.5.2

Published CVSS scores

8.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.8GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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