VDB
KO
HIGH 7.5

GHSA-9rj7-rf2p-w77r

GitPython: Unguarded git option forwarding in Repo.init enables arbitrary command execution via --template clone hooks

Quick fix

GHSA-9rj7-rf2p-w77r — gitpython: upgrade to the fixed version with the command below.

pip install --upgrade 'gitpython>=3.1.58'

Details

## Summary `Repo.init()` forwards `**kwargs` verbatim to `git init` with no unsafe-option guard and no `allow_unsafe_options` parameter. `git init --template=<dir>` copies `<dir>/hooks/*` into the new repo's `.git/hooks`, so an attacker-controlled `template` kwarg plants a hook that executes on the next git operation → arbitrary code execution. `--template` is already recognized as unsafe for clone (it is on `unsafe_git_clone_options`, and GHSA-6p8h-3wgx-97gf covers the clone path), but `Repo.init` is a distinct method that never received a guard and needs an independent fix.

## Root Cause `Repo.init(path, mkdir, odbt, expand_vars, **kwargs)` is a bare `git.init(**kwargs)` (git/repo/base.py:1435) with no `check_unsafe_options` and no `allow_unsafe_options`.

## Impact Arbitrary code execution (hook fires on next git op) at the privileges of the host process. Two preconditions raise attack complexity (AC:H): the app must forward a `template=` kwarg (KEY control) AND the attacker must stage an executable hook directory at a known path — the same profile GHSA-6p8h-3wgx-97gf accepted as HIGH for the clone path. Default `allow_unsafe_options` is irrelevant here because `Repo.init` has no guard at all.

## Proof of Concept ```python # attacker stages /evil/hooks/post-commit (executable) from git import Repo Repo.init(path, template="/evil") # next commit runs /evil/hooks/post-commit -> ACE ```

## Attack Chain 1. Entry: attacker stages `/evil/hooks/post-commit` (executable) and gets the app to call `Repo.init(path, template='/evil')`. 2. Check: NONE on `Repo.init`. Bypass proof: base.py:1435 is a bare `git.init(**kwargs)`. argv (observed): `['git','init','--template=/evil']`. 3. Sink: git copies `/evil/hooks/post-commit` → `<repo>/.git/hooks/post-commit`. 4. Impact: next commit runs the hook → arbitrary code execution.

## Bypass Evidence Independently reproduced (gate harness): `Repo.init(dst, template='<evil>')` → argv `['git','init','--template=<evil>']` unguarded; hook copied into `.git/hooks/post-commit`; after `git commit` the `INIT_ACE` marker was created. `--separate-git-dir=<path>` is a parallel arbitrary-redirect vector through the same unguarded sink (value control only).

## Affected Versions `GitPython <= 3.1.57` (unguarded `git.init(**kwargs)` present verbatim on the latest release tag).

## Suggested Fix Add a `check_unsafe_options` guard (with an `allow_unsafe_options` parameter) to `Repo.init`, consulting a denylist that includes `--template` and `--separate-git-dir` (path-taking / hook-installing options).

--- Reported by **zx (Jace)** — GitHub: @manus-use

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Affected packages

PyPI / gitpython
Introduced in: 0 Fixed in: 3.1.58
Fix pip install --upgrade 'gitpython>=3.1.58'

References