Code execution via case-colliding submodule symlink
Published May 14, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Path traversal in Git allows attackers to execute code when a crafted repository is cloned with recursive submodules. In clone_submodule, case-colliding directory and symlink paths on a case-insensitive filesystem let checkout replace the submodule directory with a symlink into .git, where a post-checkout hook is written and run. Exploitation requires recursive cloning on a case-insensitive filesystem with symbolic-link support enabled; the hook runs as the cloning user.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Git allows attackers to execute code when a crafted repository is cloned with recursive submodules. In clone_submodule, case-colliding directory and symlink paths on a case-insensitive filesystem let checkout replace the submodule directory with a symlink into .git, where a post-checkout hook is written and run. Exploitation requires recursive cloning on a case-insensitive filesystem with symbolic-link support enabled; the hook runs as the cloning user.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-32002
- Published
- May 14, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Git
- Product
- Git
- Classifications
- CWE-22, CWE-434, T1204
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 14, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <2.39.4
- Affected versionversion=< 2.39.4
- Affected versionversion=>= 2.40.0, < 2.40.2
- Affected versionversion=2.40.0 <2.40.2
- Affected versionversion== 2.41.0
- Affected versionversion=2.41.0
- Affected versionversion=>= 2.42.0, < 2.42.2
- Affected versionversion=2.42.0 <2.42.2
- Affected versionversion=>= 2.43.0, < 2.43.4
- Affected versionversion=2.43 <2.43.4
- Affected versionversion== 2.44.0
- Affected versionversion=2.44.0
- Affected versionversion== 2.45.0
- Affected versionversion=2.45.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Git submodule symlink regression testproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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