CVE-2023-40590Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via current-directory git executable

Published Aug 28, 2023 · Updated Oct 2, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in GitPython 3.1.32 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious repository. On Windows, git/cmd.py passes the bare git command to Popen, allowing the current directory's git.exe to win lookup before PATH. Execution requires a user to download the repository and run or import GitPython from that directory; Linux and macOS are unaffected.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.50%
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 GitPython 3.1.32 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious repository. On Windows, git/cmd.py passes the bare git command to Popen, allowing the current directory's git.exe to win lookup before PATH. Execution requires a user to download the repository and run or import GitPython from that directory; Linux and macOS are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40590
Published
Aug 28, 2023
Updated
Oct 2, 2024
Vendor
GitPython Developers
Product
GitPython
Classifications
CWE-426, CAPEC-38, T1574.008, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 2, 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=<= 3.1.32

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GitPython Developers · GitPythonversion=<= 3.1.32

Published CVSS scores

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.

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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-426Untrusted Search Path
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking
T1204.002Malicious File

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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