CVE-2026-44973: Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 Path Traversal Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2026-44973 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves go-billy has path traversal vulnerabilities. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.9.0, 6.0.0-alpha.1.
CVE-2026-44973 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 8.1
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-44973
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5 to 5.9.0Upgrade github.com/go-git/go-billy/v6 to 6.0.0-alpha.1Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-44973, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/go git/go billy/v5:
inspect dependencies for github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.9.0), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In Github.com/go git/go billy/v5, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-44973 Affected Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5
|
Go |
< 5.9.0
|
5.9.0
|
|
github.com/go-git/go-billy/v6
|
Go |
< 6.0.0-alpha.1
|
6.0.0-alpha.1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-44973?
Which Github.com/go git/go billy/v5 versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-44973?
Is github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5 affected?
Is github.com/go-git/go-billy/v6 affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-44973?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-44973?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-44973?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-qw64-3x98-g7q2",
"modified" : "2026-06-09T10:26:27Z",
"published" : "2026-05-14T18:25:38Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-44973" ],
"summary" : "go-billy has path traversal vulnerabilities",
"details" : "### Impact\nMultiple path traversal issues exist across different components of `go-billy`. Insufficient path sanitization and boundary enforcement may allow crafted paths (e.g., using `..`) to escape intended base directories.\n\nWhile go-billy was not originally designed to provide a strong security boundary, some of these issues were inconsistent across some of the built-in implementations. This results in scenarios where applications relying on `go-billy` for some level of isolation may inadvertently expose access to unintended filesystem locations.\n\nThe `osfs.ChrootOS` implementation is notably affected by this vulnerability and is now deprecated in `v5`, removed at `v6`. Users are recommended to move on to `osfs.BoundOS` instead: `osfs.New(path, WithBoundOS())`.\n\nUsers requiring stronger security boundary enforcement are recommended to upgrade to `v6`, where the `osfs` implementation are backed by the [traversal-resistant](https://go.dev/blog/osroot) primitive [os.Root](https://pkg.go.dev/os#Root).\n\n### Patches\nUsers should upgrade to a patched version in order to mitigate this vulnerability. Versions prior to `v5` are likely to be affected, users are recommended to upgrade to a supported `go-billy` version.\n\n### Credits\nThanks to @faran66 and @vnykmshr for finding and separately reporting this issue privately to the go-git project. 🙇",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "5.9.0"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/go-git/go-billy/v6"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "6.0.0-alpha.1"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/go-git/go-billy/security/advisories/GHSA-qw64-3x98-g7q2"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44973"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/go-git/go-billy"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/go-git/go-billy/releases/tag/v5.9.0"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/go-git/go-billy/releases/tag/v6.0.0-alpha.1"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-14T18:25:38Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-28T22:16:59Z"
}
}