CVE-2023-23618
gitk can inadvertently call executables in the worktree
Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when gitk is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using gitk (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
gitk can inadvertently call executables in the worktree
Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when gitk is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using gitk (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.
- Record
CVE-2023-23618- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-27713
Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when gitk is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using gitk (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.
- Record
EUVD-2023-27713- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when gitk is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using gitk (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.
- Record
CVE-2023-23618- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
gitk can inadvertently call executables in the worktree
Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when gitk is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using gitk (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.
- Record
CVE-2023-23618- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-23618 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.6) in Git-for-windows Git, published February 14, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.39%, the 32nd percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/git-for-windows/git/security/advisories/GHSA-wxwv-49qw-35pm
wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/exec
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23618