CVE-2022-41953 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2022-41953, a vulnerability in Git for Windows that allows remote code execution through git clone.

Understanding CVE-2022-41953

CVE-2022-41953 is a security vulnerability in Git for Windows that enables remote code execution through the git clone feature.

What is CVE-2022-41953?

The vulnerability exists in Git GUI, a graphical tool in Git for Windows that automatically post-processes cloned repositories. Due to a flaw in the Tcl/Tk script implementation on Windows, malicious repositories can execute untrusted code, posing a high-risk security threat.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41953

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.6 (High), with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on a user's system, leading to potential data breaches and system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41953

This section covers the technical aspects of CVE-2022-41953, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Git GUI in Git for Windows has an untrusted search path issue that allows execution of arbitrary code placed in the top-level directory of a cloned repository. This can be exploited by attackers to run malicious commands on the user's system.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects git-for-windows versions prior to 2.39.1. Users with vulnerable versions are at risk of remote code execution when using the Git GUI for cloning repositories.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can create a malicious repository with an

aspell.exe

file in the top-level directory. When a user clones this repository using Git GUI, the

aspell.exe

file is executed automatically, leading to remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect systems from CVE-2022-41953, users and administrators should take immediate steps to mitigate the risk and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade git-for-windows to version 2.39.1 or newer to address the vulnerability. If upgrading is not possible, users should avoid using Git GUI for cloning and exercise caution when cloning repositories from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, users should follow secure coding practices, maintain software updates, and verify the integrity of cloned repositories to prevent similar security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Git-for-Windows users should regularly check for security updates and apply patches provided by the official repository to address known vulnerabilities.