VDB

CVE-2023-22490

CVE-2023-22490 PUBLISHED CVSS 5.5 MEDIUM

Git vulnerable to local clone-based data exfiltration with non-local transports

Reported by github_m · Published February 14, 2023

Git is a revision control system. Using a specially-crafted repository, Git prior to versions 2.39.2, 2.38.4, 2.37.6, 2.36.5, 2.35.7, 2.34.7, 2.33.7, 2.32.6, 2.31.7, and 2.30.8 can be tricked into using its local clone optimization even when using a non-local transport. Though Git will abort local clones whose source `$GIT_DIR/objects` directory contains symbolic links, the `objects` directory itself may still be a symbolic link. These two may be combined to include arbitrary files based on known paths on the victim's filesystem within the malicious repository's working copy, allowing for data exfiltration in a similar manner as CVE-2022-39253. A fix has been prepared and will appear in v2.39.2 v2.38.4 v2.37.6 v2.36.5 v2.35.7 v2.34.7 v2.33.7 v2.32.6, v2.31.7 and v2.30.8. If upgrading is impractical, two short-term workarounds are available. Avoid cloning repositories from untrusted sources with `--recurse-submodules`. Instead, consider cloning repositories without recursively cloning their submodules, and instead run `git submodule update` at each layer. Before doing so, inspect each new `.gitmodules` file to ensure that it does not contain suspicious module URLs.

Fixed versions

Upgrade to a fixed version or later. Language registries are listed first, then Linux distributions, then vendor products.

PackageEcosystemFixed in
git-coreAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1, 2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-cvsAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1, 2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-guiAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1, 2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-p4Amazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-subtreeAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
perl-Git-SVNAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1, 2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-core-docAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-allAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1
git-emailAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1
git-daemonAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1
gitwebAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2023.0.1
gitkAmazon Linux2.39.2-1.amzn2.0.1

2 more packages have a fixed version. See every fix in Lookup.

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1
5.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
gitgit>= 2.39.0, < 2.39.2, >= 2.38.0, < 2.38.4, >= 2.37.0, < 2.37.6
amazon:2git-core0
amazon:2git-cvs0
amazon:2023git-gui0
amazon:2023git-core0
amazon:2git-p40
amazon:2git-subtree0
amazon:2023git-cvs0
amazon:2023perl-Git-SVN0
amazon:2perl-Git-SVN0
amazon:2git-core-doc0
amazon:2023git-all0
amazon:2git-email0
amazon:2023git-daemon0
amazon:2git-gui0
amazon:2023gitweb0
amazon:2gitk0
amazon:2perl-Git0
gitgit0, 2.39.0, 2.38.0
amazon:2git-svn0

…and 19 more

Timeline

  • Feb 14, 2023 CVE Published
  • Feb 15, 2023 EPSS Score (30 in total, the first dated here)
  • Nov 17, 2024 PoC Published
  • Oct 6, 2025 CVE Updated
  • Feb 21, 2026 Security Advisory (8 in total, the first dated here)
  • May 18, 2026 Coalition ESS Score
  • Nov 3, 2026 Distribution Patch (5 in total, the first dated here)

Query this with the API

The same record, from the CLI:

vulnetix vdb vuln CVE-2023-22490
vulnetix vdb fixes CVE-2023-22490

Or with curl, using the org id and key from your account page:

curl -s -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${VULNETIX_ORG_ID}:${VULNETIX_API_KEY}" \
  "https://api.vdb.vulnetix.com/v2/vuln/CVE-2023-22490/fixes/registry"

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