CVE-2025-8959: Github.com/hashicorp/go getter HashiCorp Go-getter Vulnerable To Symlink Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wjrx-6529-hcj3
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-8959 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) hashicorp go-getter vulnerable to symlink vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Github.com/hashicorp/go getter libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves hashicorp go-getter vulnerable to symlink attacks. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.7.9.

CVE-2025-8959 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-8959
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wjrx-6529-hcj3
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Github.com/hashicorp/go getter
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2025-8959

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/hashicorp/go getter dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/hashicorp/go-getter fixed: 1.7.9 
Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/go-getter to 1.7.9
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/go-getter

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-8959, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/hashicorp/go getter:

inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/go-getter

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/hashicorp/go getter in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.7.9), 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-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. In Github.com/hashicorp/go getter, 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

HashiCorp's go-getter library subdirectory download feature is vulnerable to symlink attacks leading to unauthorized read access beyond the designated directory boundaries. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-8959, is fixed in go-getter 1.7.9.

CVE-2025-8959 Affected Github.com/hashicorp/go getter Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.7.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/hashicorp/go-getter
golang/github.com/hashicorp/go-getter
Go
< 1.7.9
1.7.9

References

NVD — CVE-2025-8959 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8959
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/hashicorp/go-getter/commit/87541b2501c00df5eaedea6acc61a2a4a4efa5b7
discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-23-has... WEB
https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-23-hashicorp-go-getter-vulnerable-to-arbitrary-read-through-symlink-attack/76242
Github.com/hashicorp/go getter Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/go-getter
pkg.go.dev/vuln/go-2025-3892 WEB
https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3892

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-8959?
CVE-2025-8959 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/hashicorp/go getter involving HashiCorp go-getter Vulnerable to Symlink Attacks under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which Github.com/hashicorp/go getter versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.7.9 across affected packages: github.com/hashicorp/go-getter.
What version fixes CVE-2025-8959?
Upgrading to 1.7.9 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/hashicorp/go-getter affected?
Yes, github.com/hashicorp/go-getter is affected in releases prior to 1.7.9. Upgrade your dependency to 1.7.9 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-8959?
CVE-2025-8959 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-8959?
CVE-2025-8959 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-8959?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/go-getter'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-wjrx-6529-hcj3",
  "modified" : "2025-08-29T20:36:28Z",
  "published" : "2025-08-15T21:31:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-8959" ],
  "summary" : "HashiCorp go-getter Vulnerable to Symlink Attacks",
  "details" : "HashiCorp's go-getter library subdirectory download feature is vulnerable to symlink attacks leading to unauthorized read access beyond the designated directory boundaries. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-8959, is fixed in go-getter 1.7.9.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/hashicorp/go-getter"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.7.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8959"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/go-getter/commit/87541b2501c00df5eaedea6acc61a2a4a4efa5b7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-23-hashicorp-go-getter-vulnerable-to-arbitrary-read-through-symlink-attack/76242"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/go-getter"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3892"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-08-18T15:10:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-08-15T21:15:37Z"
  }
}