CVE-2023-40267: GitPython Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pr76-5cm5-w9cj
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-40267 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting GitPython libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves gitpython vulnerable to remote code execution due to insufficient sanitization of input arguments. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.1.32.

CVE-2023-40267 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-40267
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pr76-5cm5-w9cj
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product GitPython
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H/A:H).

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 High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-40267

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

GitPython fixed: 3.1.32 
pip install GitPython>=3.1.32
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

pip show GitPython

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2023-40267, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show GitPython

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of GitPython in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.1.32), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show GitPython command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In GitPython, 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

GitPython before 3.1.32 does not block insecure non-multi options in `clone` and `clone_from`, making it vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) due to improper user input validation, which makes it possible to inject a maliciously crafted remote URL into the clone command. Exploiting this vulnerability is possible because the library makes external calls to git without sufficient sanitization of input arguments. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2022-24439.

CVE-2023-40267 Affected GitPython Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.1.32
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
GitPython
pypi/GitPython
PyPI
< 3.1.32
3.1.32

References

NVD — CVE-2023-40267 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40267
GitPython Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/1609
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/ca965ecc81853bca7675261729143f54e5bf4cdd
GitPython Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython
GitPython Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2023-137.yaml
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00030.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AV5DV7GBLMOZT7U3Q4TDOJO5R6G3V6GH
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PF6AXUTC5BO7L2SBJMCVKJSPKWY52I5R
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AV5DV7GBLMOZT7U3Q4TDOJO5R6G3V6GH
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PF6AXUTC5BO7L2SBJMCVKJSPKWY52I5R

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-40267?
CVE-2023-40267 is a security vulnerability in GitPython involving GitPython vulnerable to remote code execution due to insufficient sanitization of input arguments under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which GitPython versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.1.32 across affected packages: GitPython.
What version fixes CVE-2023-40267?
Upgrading to 3.1.32 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is GitPython affected?
Yes, GitPython is affected in releases prior to 3.1.32. Upgrade your dependency to 3.1.32 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-40267?
CVE-2023-40267 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-40267?
CVE-2023-40267 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2023-40267?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show GitPython'. 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-pr76-5cm5-w9cj",
  "modified" : "2025-11-04T16:45:13Z",
  "published" : "2023-08-11T09:30:36Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-40267" ],
  "summary" : "GitPython vulnerable to remote code execution due to insufficient sanitization of input arguments",
  "details" : "GitPython before 3.1.32 does not block insecure non-multi options in `clone` and `clone_from`, making it vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) due to improper user input validation, which makes it possible to inject a maliciously crafted remote URL into the clone command. Exploiting this vulnerability is possible because the library makes external calls to git without sufficient sanitization of input arguments. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2022-24439.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "GitPython"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.32"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40267"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/1609"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/ca965ecc81853bca7675261729143f54e5bf4cdd"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2023-137.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00030.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AV5DV7GBLMOZT7U3Q4TDOJO5R6G3V6GH"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PF6AXUTC5BO7L2SBJMCVKJSPKWY52I5R"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AV5DV7GBLMOZT7U3Q4TDOJO5R6G3V6GH"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PF6AXUTC5BO7L2SBJMCVKJSPKWY52I5R"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-11T19:48:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-08-11T07:15:09Z"
  }
}