Vulnerabilities in pkg:npm/@google/gemini-cli
PACKAGECVE-2026-12537 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 10.0) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Gemini CLI libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves remote code execution via workspace trust and tool allowlisting bypasses. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.39.1, 0.40.0-preview.3, 0.1.22.
pkg:npm/@google/gemini-cli
Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:npm/@google/gemini-cli. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.
| Advisory ID | CVE / NVD | Severity | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g | CVE-2026-12537 | CRITICAL | Gemini CLI: Remote Code Execution via workspace trust and tool allowlisting bypasses |
CVE-2026-12537 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 10.0
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:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2026-12537
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Gemini CLI dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install @google/gemini-cli@0.39.1
npm install @google/gemini-cli@0.40.0-preview.3
Upgrade google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli to 0.1.22
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls @google/gemini-cli
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-12537, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls @google/gemini-cli
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gemini CLI in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.39.1), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls @google/gemini-cli command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
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 Gemini CLI, 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-2026-12537 Affected Gemini CLI Versions
3 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
@google/gemini-cli
|
npm |
< 0.39.1
|
0.39.1
|
|
@google/gemini-cli
|
npm |
≥ 0.40.0-preview.2
< 0.40.0-preview.3
All 1 versions
0.40.0-preview.2
|
0.40.0-preview.3
|
|
google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli
|
GitHub Actions |
< 0.1.22
|
0.1.22
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-12537?
Which Gemini CLI versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-12537?
Is @google/gemini-cli affected?
Is google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-12537?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-12537?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-12537?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g",
"modified" : "2026-09-24T20:05:52Z",
"published" : "2026-04-24T19:30:01Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-12537" ],
"summary" : "Gemini CLI: Remote Code Execution via workspace trust and tool allowlisting bypasses",
"details" : "# Summary\n\nGemini CLI (`@google/gemini-cli`) and the `run-gemini-cli` GitHub Action are being updated to harden workspace trust and tool allowlisting, in particular when used in untrusted environments like GitHub Actions. This update introduces a breaking change to how non-interactive (headless) environments handle folder trust, which may impact existing CI/CD workflows under specific conditions.\n\n# Details\n\nFolder Trust in Headless Mode\n\nIn previous versions, Gemini CLI running in CI environments (headless mode) automatically trusted workspace folders for the purpose of loading configuration and environment variables. This is potentially risky in situations where Gemini CLI runs on untrusted folders in headless mode (e.g. CI workflows that review user-submitted pull requests). If used with untrusted directory contents, this could lead to remote code execution via malicious environment variables in the local `.gemini/` directory.\n\nTo ensure consistency and user control, the latest update aligns headless mode behavior with interactive mode, requiring folders to be explicitly trusted before configuration files (such as `.env`) are processed.\n\nAs a result of this change, GitHub Actions and other automated pipelines that rely on the previous automatic trust behavior will fail to load workspace-specific settings until they are updated to use explicit trust mechanisms.\n\nTool Allowlisting under \\--yolo\n\nIn previous versions, when Gemini CLI was configured to run in `--yolo` mode, it would ignore any fine grained tool allowlist in `~/.gemini/settings.json` (e.g. `run_shell_command(echo)` would allow any command). This is potentially risky in situations where Gemini CLI runs on untrusted inputs with `--yolo` (e.g. CI workflows that triage user-submitted GitHub issues where we recommend a strict allowlist). If used with untrusted content and a tool allowlist that permits `run_shell_command`, this could lead to remote code execution via prompt injection.\n\nIn version `0.39.1`, the Gemini CLI policy engine now evaluates tool allowlisting under `--yolo` mode, which is useful for CI workflows that allowlist a few safe commands to run when processing untrusted inputs. As a result, some workflows that previously depended on this behavior may fail silently unless tool allowlists are modified to fit the task.\n\n# Impact\n\nThis impact is limited to workflows using Gemini CLI in headless mode. Any use of Gemini CLI in headless mode without folder trust will require manual review to correctly configure folder trust. **This affects all Gemini CLI GitHub Actions.** Users must review their workflows, and take one of two approaches:\n\n1\\. If the workflow runs on trusted inputs (e.g. reviewing PRs from trusted collaborators), set `GEMINI_TRUST_WORKSPACE: 'true'` in your workflow.\n\n2\\. If the workflow runs on untrusted inputs, review our guidance in [google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli](https://github.com/google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli) to harden your workflow against malicious content, and set the environment variable.\n\n# Patches\n\nThe folder trust and tool allowlisting mitigations are available in `@google/gemini-cli` version `0.39.1` and `0.40.0-preview.3`. By default, the `run-gemini-cli` GitHub Action will receive and run the latest version of `gemini-cli`. However, if your workflow specifies a version of `gemini-cli` by setting the [gemini\\_cli\\_version](https://github.com/google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli#user-content-__input_gemini_cli_version), you are encouraged to upgrade to one of the patched versions and audit the workflow settings that use Gemini CLI.\n\n# Credits\n\nGemini thanks the following security researchers for reporting this issue through the Vulnerability Rewards Program (g.co/vulnz):\n\n* Elad Meged, Novee Security\n* Dan Lisichkin, Pillar Security research team",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "@google/gemini-cli"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.39.1"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "@google/gemini-cli"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0.40.0-preview.2"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.40.0-preview.3"
} ]
} ],
"versions" : [ "0.40.0-preview.2" ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "GitHub Actions",
"name" : "google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.1.22"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli/security/advisories/GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12537"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-200", "CWE-77", "CWE-78" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-24T19:30:01Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}