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High, CVSS 8.6amended

GitPython untrusted search path on Windows systems leading to arbitrary code execution

CVE-2023-40590GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4

What to do

Vendor fix available. Upgrade each affected package to the fixed version on its release line (gitpython 3.1.33), redeploy, then verify what is actually installed.

This page has no inventory attached, so it cannot say whether you are affected. A vendor fix is not proof that your deployment is fixed.

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Affected packages

  • PyPI gitpython

    Affected
    <= 3.1.32
    Fixed in
    3.1.33

Sources

Severity and exploitation
Exploitation
No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.
CVSS 4.0
8.6 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N · score source
EPSS
  • CVE-2023-40590: 0.51% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 43.48 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.
Source description

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary When resolving a program, Python/Windows look for the current working directory, and after that the PATH environment (see big warning in https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructor). GitPython defaults to use the git command, if a user runs GitPython from a repo has a git.exe or git executable, that program will be run instead of the one in the user's PATH. Details This is more of a problem on how Python interacts with Windows systems, Linux and any other OS aren't affected by this. But probably people using GitPython usually run it from the CWD of a repo. The execution of the git command happens in https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L277 https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L983-L996 And there are other commands executed that should probably be aware of this problem. PoC On a Windows system, create a git.exe or…

Dates and revisions
Published by the source
Last modified by the source
Source last checked
  1. Revision 3 · amended ·

    Amended from ghsa record GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4

  2. Revision 2 · amended ·

    Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

  3. Revision 1 · created ·

    Published from osv record GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4

Agent brief

Preview the exact text before you copy it. Commands are read-only suggestions; review them before running anything.

# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2023-40590

Advisory: GitPython untrusted search path on Windows systems leading to arbitrary code execution
IDs: CVE-2023-40590, GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2023-40590 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:17 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.6)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: gitpython 3.1.33. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI gitpython: affected <= 3.1.32; fixed in 3.1.33

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show gitpython`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on gitpython.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4 (OSV record GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4 lists affected ranges: PyPI gitpython >=0 <3.1.33 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4 lists affected ranges: PyPI gitpython >=0 <=3.1.32)

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