CVE-2023-41040Public exploit

Application hang via unchecked reference path

Published Aug 30, 2023 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Path traversal in GitPython Developers' GitPython before 3.1.37 allows local users to hang calling applications via crafted revisions. The _get_ref_info_helper path in git/refs/symbolic.py joins a caller-supplied reference path to the repository directory without rejecting parent-directory components. Exploitation requires an application to pass an attacker-controlled revision to commit(), tree(), or diff(); file contents are not returned, but reading a large or infinite file can hang the application.

CVSS severity4.0
Medium
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in GitPython Developers' GitPython before 3.1.37 allows local users to hang calling applications via crafted revisions. The _get_ref_info_helper path in git/refs/symbolic.py joins a caller-supplied reference path to the repository directory without rejecting parent-directory components. Exploitation requires an application to pass an attacker-controlled revision to commit(), tree(), or diff(); file contents are not returned, but reading a large or infinite file can hang the application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-41040
Published
Aug 30, 2023
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
GitPython Developers
Product
GitPython
Classifications
CWE-22, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 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=< 3.1.37

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GitPython Developers · GitPythonversion=< 3.1.37

Published CVSS scores

4.0GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

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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