Traversal outside working tree enables arbitrary code execution

### Summary During checkout, gitoxide does not verify that paths point to locations in the working tree. A specially crafted repository can, when cloned, place new files anywhere writable by the application. ### Details Although `gix-worktree-state` checks for collisions with existing files, it does not itself check if a path is really in the working tree when performing a checkout, nor do the path checks in `gix-fs` and `gix-worktree` prevent this. Cloning an untrusted repository containing specially crafted tree or blob names will create new files outside the repository, or inside the repository or a submodule's `.git` directory. The simplest cases are: - A tree named `..` to traverse upward. This facilitates arbitrary code execution because files can be placed in one or more locations where they are likely to be executed soon. - A tree named `.git` to enter a `.git` directory. This facilitates arbitrary code execution because hooks can be installed. A number of alternatives that achieve the same effect are also possible, some of which correspond to specific vulnerabilities that have affected Git in the past: - A tree or blob whose name contains one or more `/`, to traverse upward or downward. For example, even without containing any tree named `..` or `.git`, a repository can represent a file named `../outside` or `.git/hooks/pre-commit`. This is distinct from the more intuitive case a repository containing trees that represent those paths. - In Windows, a tree or blob whose name contains one or more `\`, to traverse upward or downward. (Unlike `/`, these are valid on other systems.) See [GHSA-xjx4-8694-q2fq](https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-xjx4-8694-q2fq). - On a case-insensitive filesystem (such as NTFS, APFS, or HFS+), a tree named as a case variant of `.git`. - On HFS+, a tree named like `.git` or a case variant, with characters added that HFS+ ignores [in collation](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn/tn1150.html#StringComparisonAlgorithm). See https://github.com/git/git/commit/6162a1d323d24fd8cbbb1a6145a91fb849b2568f. - On NTFS, a tree equivalent to `.git` (or a case variant) by the use of [NTFS stream](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-fscc/c54dec26-1551-4d3a-a0ea-4fa40f848eb3) notation, such as `.git::$INDEX_ALLOCATION`. See [GHSA-5wph-8frv-58vj](https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-5wph-8frv-58vj). - On an NTFS volume with [8.3 aliasing](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/naming-a-file#short-vs-long-names) enabled, a tree named as `git~1` (or a case variant). See [GHSA-589j-mmg9-733v](https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-589j-mmg9-733v). When a checkout creates some files outside the repository directory but fails to complete, the repository directory is usually removed, but the outside files remain. ### PoC For simplicity, these examples stage a stand-in file with a valid name, modify the index, and commit. The instructions assume `sed` supports `-i`, which is the case on most systems. If using Windows, a Git Bash shell should be used. #### Example: Downward traversal to install hooks 1. Create a new repository with `git init dangerous-repo-installs-hook` and `cd` into the directory. 2. Create the stand-in called `.git@hooks@pre-commit`, with the *contents*: ```sh #!/bin/sh printf 'Vulnerable!\n' date >vulnerable ``` 3. Stage the stand-in: `git add --chmod=+x .git@hooks@pre-commit` 4. Edit the index: `env LC_ALL=C sed -i.orig 's|\.git@hooks@pre-commit|.git/hooks/pre-commit|' .git/index` 5. Commit: `git commit -m 'Initial commit'` 6. *Optionally*, push to a private remote. Then, on another or the same machine: 1. Clone the repository with a `gix clone …` command. 2. Enter the newly created directory. 3. *Optionally* run `ls -l .git/hooks` to observe that the `pre-commit` hook is already present. 4. Make a new file and commit it with `git`. This causes the payload surreptitiously installed as a `pre-commit` hook to run, printing the message `Vulnerable!` and creating a file in the current directory containing the current date and time. Note that the effect is not limited to modifying the current directory. The payload could be written to perform any action that the user who runs `git commit` is capable of. #### Example: Upward traversal to create a file above the working tree 1. Create a new repository with `git init dangerous-repo-reaches-up`, and `cd` into the directory. 2. Create the stand-in: `echo 'A file outside the working tree, somehow.' >..@outside` 3. Stage the stand-in: `git add ..@outside` 4. Edit the index: `env LC_ALL=C sed -i.orig 's|\.\.@outside|../outside|' .git/index` 5. Commit: `git commit -m 'Initial commit'` 6. *Optionally*, push to a private remote. Then, as above, on the same or another machine, clone the repository with a `gix clone …` command. Observe that a file named `outside` is present alongside (not inside) the cloned directory. ### Impact Any use of `gix` or another application that makes use of `gix-worktree-state`, or otherwise relies on `gix-fs` and `gix-worktree` for validation, is affected, if used to clone untrusted repositories. The above description focuses on code execution, as that leads to a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but creating files outside a working tree without attempting to execute code can directly impact integrity as well. In use cases where no untrusted repository is ever cloned, this vulnerability has no impact. Furthermore, the impact of this vulnerability *may* be lower when `gix` is used to clone a repository for CI/CD purposes, even if untrusted, since in such uses the environment is usually isolated and arbitrary code is usually run deliberately from the repository with necessary safeguards in place.

Source published

22 May 2024 12:00:00 UTC

Source modified

9 Nov 2026 11:00:03 UTC

Saved here

9 Nov 2026 12:02:17 UTC

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OSV · upstream source license applies

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CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H