GitPython: TagReference.create positional reference bypasses kwargs-only --file guard, enabling arbitrary file read (incomplete fix of 3af0c251)

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

6.5 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS

• CVE-2026-78679: 0.32% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 24.60 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary TagReference.create() forwards a caller-influenced positional reference value into git tag without it ever being inspected by the unsafe-option guard, allowing an arbitrary file read (the file's contents are returned in-band as the annotated tag message). This is an incomplete-fix bypass of commit 3af0c251 (the fix for GHSA-3f7w-8rr8-f37f's tag instance). Root Cause The fix 3af0c251 added unsafegittagoptions = ["--file","-F"] and a guard call, but the guard is Git.checkunsafeoptions(options=Git.optioncandidates([], kwargs), unsafeoptions=...) at git/refs/tag.py:139 — it passes an EMPTY args list and inspects kwargs only. The dangerous values path and reference are POSITIONALS (args = (path, reference), tag.py:156), placed before any --. A user-influenced reference="--file=<path" therefore reaches git tag as the exact --file option the fix intended to block, creating an annotated tag whose message is the file's contents. Impact Arbitrary local file read at the privileges of…

Published by the source

8 Sep 2026, 19:42 UTC

Last modified by the source

23 Sep 2026, 05:15 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 13:51 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg

2. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg

3. Revision 1 · created · 23 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-78679

Advisory: GitPython: TagReference.create positional reference bypasses kwargs-only --file guard, enabling arbitrary file read (incomplete fix of 3af0c251)
IDs: CVE-2026-78679, GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-78679 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:51 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.5)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: gitpython 3.1.59. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI gitpython: affected <= 3.1.58; fixed in 3.1.59

## 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://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg lists affected ranges: PyPI gitpython >=0 <=3.1.58)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg (OSV record GHSA-3wxw-xv34-2frg lists affected ranges: PyPI gitpython >=0 <3.1.59 (fixed))

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