GHSA-fjr4-x663-mwxc
GitPython: Arbitrary file overwrite via git diff --output argument injection in Diffable.diff (key- and value-controlled)
Quick fix
GHSA-fjr4-x663-mwxc — gitpython: upgrade to the fixed version with the command below.
pip install --upgrade 'gitpython>=3.1.54' Details
## Summary `Diffable.diff()` forwards `**kwargs` straight into `diff`/`diff_tree` with **no** `check_unsafe_options` guard. `Diffable` is mixed into `Commit`, `Tree`, `IndexFile`, and `Submodule`, giving a broad surface. `git diff --output=<path>` writes real patch content to an attacker-chosen path, enabling arbitrary file overwrite.
## Root Cause `diff.py:188-283` builds and runs the diff command with no `check_unsafe_options` anywhere in the method (grep-confirmed). Additionally `diff.py:265` does `args.insert(0, other)`, placing the caller-supplied `other` ref BEFORE the `--` separator, so a value of `--output=/path` is parsed by git as an option — a value-only control path requiring no kwarg key.
## Impact Overwrite/corrupt any file at process privilege with attacker-chosen path (e.g. `~/.ssh/authorized_keys`, configs, lockfiles). Content is real diff/patch bytes (attacker-influenced). Per the skill's rule, controlling WHICH file is overwritten = I:H regardless of content constraints.
## Proof of Concept ```python # Key-control: commit.diff(other_commit, output='/home/app/.ssh/authorized_keys') # victim overwritten with diff (105 bytes verified) # Value-control (attacker controls only the ref string): commit.diff(other='--output=/home/app/.ssh/authorized_keys') # 14-byte victim -> 146 bytes of diff-tree output ```
## Attack Chain 1. Entry (value-control): `commit.diff(other=<user ref>)` with `other = "--output=/home/app/.ssh/authorized_keys"`. Guard: none in `Diffable.diff`. Bypass proof: no `check_unsafe_options` in the method body (grep); `other` inserted pre-`--` at diff.py:265. 2. Sink: `git diff-tree <sha> --output=/home/app/.ssh/authorized_keys -r ...` -> git opens+truncates the target then writes diff content. Impact: overwrite/corrupt any file at process privilege (attacker chooses the path). Verified argv and victim overwrite live.
## Bypass Evidence Live-verified on HEAD (tag 3.1.53): both key-control (`output=`) and value-control (`other='--output=...'`) overwrote a victim file with real diff-tree content; argv confirmed `['git','diff-tree','<sha>','--output=/victim','-r',...]`. This is the same value-control model GHSA-956x deemed fix-worthy for `iter_commits(rev='--output=')` — but `diff` is a distinct, unguarded sink NOT touched by that fix.
## Affected Versions `<= 3.1.53`
## Suggested Fix Add `check_unsafe_options` to `Diffable.diff` (mirroring `iter_commits`/`archive`), and/or place `--end-of-options` before the `other` ref so it cannot be parsed as an option.
--- Reported by **zx (Jace)** — GitHub: @manus-use
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References
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-fjr4-x663-mwxc [WEB]
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/2180 [WEB]
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/1d51b891d7f236044a6aa17498ec682b63dad6e6 [WEB]
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython [PACKAGE]
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/releases/tag/3.1.54 [WEB]