Arbitrary repository creation via unvalidated submodule name
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Path traversal in GitPython before 3.1.58 allows remote attackers to create Git repositories outside the clone directory via submodules. sm_name() returns an unchecked .gitmodules section name, and _module_abspath() joins it into .git/modules before _clone_repo() passes the escaped path to directory creation and git clone. Exploitation requires a victim to clone an attacker-controlled repository and initialize its submodules, permitting attacker-controlled content to be written at a chosen filesystem path.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in GitPython before 3.1.58 allows remote attackers to create Git repositories outside the clone directory via submodules. sm_name() returns an unchecked .gitmodules section name, and _module_abspath() joins it into .git/modules before _clone_repo() passes the escaped path to directory creation and git clone. Exploitation requires a victim to clone an attacker-controlled repository and initialize its submodules, permitting attacker-controlled content to be written at a chosen filesystem path.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-76222
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- GitPython Developers
- Product
- GitPython
- Classifications
- CWE-73, CWE-22, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 2026Record 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 <3.1.58
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
- GitPython malicious submodule-name proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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