Learn about CVE-2021-29468 affecting Cygwin-Git versions prior to 2.31.1-2. Understand impacts, technical details, and mitigation strategies for preventing arbitrary code execution.
A vulnerability, identified as CVE-2021-29468, affects Cygwin-Git versions prior to 2.31.1-2, allowing arbitrary code execution. This CVE is associated with an attacker-controlled Git branch.
Understanding CVE-2021-29468
This section provides an overview of the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.
What is CVE-2021-29468?
The CVE-2021-29468 vulnerability in Cygwin-Git allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary code by manipulating symbolic links and files with backslash characters in file names during Git repository checkouts.
The Impact of CVE-2021-29468
The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high. It has a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a severe risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-29468
This section dives into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, discussing its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from improper input validation, allowing attackers to trigger code execution by manipulating file structures during Git operations in the Cygwin environment.
Affected Systems and Versions
Cygwin-Git versions prior to 2.31.1-2 are affected by this vulnerability, exposing users to the risk of arbitrary code execution during repository checkouts.
Exploitation Mechanism
Malicious actors can craft repositories with specific symbolic links and file names containing backslash characters to exploit this vulnerability and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Mitigation and Prevention
To prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-29468, users are advised to adopt immediate security measures and implement long-term practices to safeguard their systems.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should refrain from cloning or pulling from repositories from untrusted sources to mitigate the risk of executing arbitrary code on their systems.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement secure coding practices, maintain system hygiene, and regularly update Git repositories to protect against potential vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-29468.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that systems are updated to Cygwin Git v2.31.1-2 or later versions, where the vulnerability has been patched. In cases where users compile Git from upstream sources, manual patch application is required to mitigate the risk of arbitrary code execution.