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TI-2023-11085 Aliases CVE-2023-25815

Git looks for localized messages in the wrong place

Priority LOW 18CWE-134Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · Low · Low
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

In Git for Windows, the Windows port of Git, no localized messages are shipped with the installer. As a consequence, Git is expected not to localize messages at all, and skips the gettext initialization. However, due to a change in MINGW-packages, the `gettext()` function's implicit initialization no longer uses the runtime prefix but uses the hard-coded path `C:\mingw64\share\locale` to look for localized messages. And since any authenticated user has the permission to create folders in `C:\` (and since `C:\mingw64` does not typically exist), it is possible for low-privilege users to place fake messages in that location where `git.exe` will pick them up in version 2.40.1. This vulnerability is relatively hard to exploit and requires social engineering. For example, a legitimate message at the end of a clone could be maliciously modified to ask the user to direct their web browser to a malicious website, and the user might think that the message comes from Git and is legitimate. It does require local write access by the attacker, though, which makes this attack vector less likely. Version 2.40.1 contains a patch for this issue. Some workarounds are available. Do not work on a Windows machine with shared accounts, or alternatively create a `C:\mingw64` folder and leave it empty. Users who have administrative rights may remove the permission to create folders in `C:\`.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00839 58th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial git (git-for-windows): 2.40.1Red Hat: 8 advisoriesRed Hat: 9 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
git-for-windowsgitbefore 2.40.12.40.1Patch availableCNA
  • git Vendorgit-for-windows Affected before 2.40.1 Fixed in 2.40.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:git_for_windows_project:git_for_windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2.40.1VulnerableGit For Windows Project
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*37VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*38VulnerableFedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:a:git_for_windows_project:git_for_windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.40.1 Vulnerable ·Git For Windows Project
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA git (git-for-windows) Fixed in 2.40.1

Red Hat 8 advisories

  • RHSA-2023:3382 Released 2023-05-31 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) git-2.18.4-4.el8_2, git-all-2.18.4-4.el8_2, git-core-2.18.4-4.el8_2 +11
  • RHSA-2023:3280 Released 2023-05-23 · Red Hat rating Important
    rh-git227-git security update
    • Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL Workstation(v. 7) rh-git227-git-2.27.0-6.el7, rh-git227-git-all-2.27.0-6.el7, rh-git227-git-core-2.27.0-6.el7 +14
    • Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL(v. 7) rh-git227-git-2.27.0-6.el7, rh-git227-git-all-2.27.0-6.el7, rh-git227-git-core-2.27.0-6.el7 +14
  • RHSA-2023:3247 Released 2023-05-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) git-2.31.1-4.el8_6, git-all-2.31.1-4.el8_6, git-core-2.31.1-4.el8_6 +12
Show 5 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2023:3246 Released 2023-05-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) git-2.39.3-1.el8_8, git-all-2.39.3-1.el8_8, git-core-2.39.3-1.el8_8 +12
  • RHSA-2023:3245 Released 2023-05-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) git-2.39.3-1.el9_2, git-all-2.39.3-1.el9_2, git-core-2.39.3-1.el9_2 +12
  • RHSA-2023:3248 Released 2023-05-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) git-2.31.1-5.el9_0, git-all-2.31.1-5.el9_0, git-core-2.31.1-5.el9_0 +12
  • RHSA-2023:3243 Released 2023-05-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.4) git-2.27.0-4.el8_4, git-all-2.27.0-4.el8_4, git-core-2.27.0-4.el8_4 +12
  • RHSA-2023:3192 Released 2023-05-17 · Red Hat rating Important
    git security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1) git-2.18.4-3.el8_1, git-all-2.18.4-3.el8_1, git-core-2.18.4-3.el8_1 +11

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:3246
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:3245
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:3382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2023:3192
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:3243
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2023:3247
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0)Fixed RHSA-2023:3248
Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL Workstation(v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:3280
Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL(v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:3280

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-25815
  2. 2026-11-02 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

  • TI-2026-44986 Git for Windows: Server-advertised bundle-uri can trigger outbound SMB callbacks via UNC and file:// paths on Windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.4
  • TI-2025-40849 Git for Windows leaks NTLM hash when cloning from an attacker-controlled server CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.4
  • TI-2018-07996 In Git before 2.13.7, 2.14.x before 2.14.4, 2.15.x before 2.15.2, 2.16.x before 2.16.4… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2026-85080 Out-of-bounds write in Git for Windows credential helper CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.4
  • TI-2022-20294 Git clone remote code execution vulnerability in git-for-windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
  • TI-2023-09447 gitk can inadvertently call executables in the worktree CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
See all 14 →

Sources