VDB
KO
MEDIUM 5.4

GHSA-p538-c434-8v24

GitPython: Arbitrary file truncation via git rev-list --output argument injection in unguarded Commit.count

Quick fix

GHSA-p538-c434-8v24 — gitpython: upgrade to the fixed version with the command below.

pip install --upgrade 'gitpython>=3.1.56'

Details

## Summary `Commit.count()` forwards `**kwargs` into `rev_list` with **no** `check_unsafe_options` guard (the guard exists only in the sibling `iter_items`, commit.py:341). `git rev-list --output=<path>` opens and truncates the target file to 0 bytes before revision parsing, so `count(output='/victim')` destroys/blanks an arbitrary file.

## Root Cause `commit.py:290-291` calls `self.repo.git.rev_list(self.hexsha, **kwargs)` with no `check_unsafe_options` and no `allow_unsafe_options` parameter. The sibling `iter_items` (commit.py:341) is guarded; `count` is not. This is a distinct, uncovered sink — GHSA-956x-8gvw-wg5v fixed `iter_commits`/`blame`, not `count`.

## Impact Destroy/blank an arbitrary file at process privilege (integrity/availability). Reachability is key-control only (`count` uses `self.hexsha`, not a user ref), and the write is a 0-byte truncation (no content control), so MEDIUM.

## Proof of Concept ```python commit.count(output='/path/to/victim') # victim truncated to 0 bytes (verified) # control: commit.iter_commits(output=...) raises UnsafeOptionError ```

## Attack Chain 1. Entry: app forwards user options -> `commit.count(output='/victim')`. Guard: none. Bypass proof: `iter_commits(output=)` raises UnsafeOptionError; `count(output=)` does not — verified side-by-side. 2. Sink: `git rev-list <sha> --output=/victim` -> file truncated to 0 bytes. Impact: destroy/blank arbitrary file.

## Bypass Evidence Live-verified on HEAD (tag 3.1.53): `count(output=<victim>)` truncated a pre-existing file to 0 bytes; guarded `iter_commits(output=)` raised UnsafeOptionError. Same CNA-accepted "app forwards user options dict" model as GHSA-956x-8gvw-wg5v's `archive(**kwargs)`. Uncovered sink, not a duplicate.

## Affected Versions `<= 3.1.53`

## Suggested Fix Add `check_unsafe_options` to `Commit.count` (mirroring `iter_items`).

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

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Affected packages

PyPI / gitpython
Introduced in: 0 Fixed in: 3.1.56
Fix pip install --upgrade 'gitpython>=3.1.56'

References