CVE-2023-25652: "git apply --reject" partially-controlled arbitrary file write

Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 51.9% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2023-04-25 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-22

Description

Git is a revision control system. Prior to versions 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8, 2.34.8, 2.35.8, 2.36.6, 2.37.7, 2.38.5, 2.39.3, and 2.40.1, by feeding specially crafted input to `git apply --reject`, a path outside the working tree can be overwritten with partially controlled contents (corresponding to the rejected hunk(s) from the given patch). A fix is available in versions 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8, 2.34.8, 2.35.8, 2.36.6, 2.37.7, 2.38.5, 2.39.3, and 2.40.1. As a workaround, avoid using `git apply` with `--reject` when applying patches from an untrusted source. Use `git apply --stat` to inspect a patch before applying; avoid applying one that create a conflict where a link corresponding to the `*.rej` file exists.

Affected products

Fedoraproject Fedora: 37, 38
git: before 2.30.9; from 2.31.0 before 2.31.8; from 2.32.0 before 2.32.7; from 2.33.0 before 2.33.8; from 2.34.0 before 2.34.8; from 2.35.0 before 2.35.8 — fixed in 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8, 2.34.8, 2.35.8

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: git 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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