Git for Windows's config file of `connect.exe` is susceptible to malicious placing
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-427.
Summary
Git for Windows, the Windows port of Git, ships with an executable called `connect.exe`, which implements a SOCKS5 proxy that can be used to connect e.g. to SSH servers via proxies when certain ports are blocked for outgoing connections. The location of `connect.exe`'s config file is hard-coded as `/etc/connectrc` which will typically be interpreted as `C:\etc\connectrc`. Since `C:\etc` can be created by any authenticated user, this makes `connect.exe` susceptible to malicious files being placed there by other users on the same multi-user machine. The problem has been patched in Git for Windows v2.40.1. As a workaround, create the folder `etc` on all drives where Git commands are run, and remove read/write access from those folders. Alternatively, watch out for malicious `<drive>:\etc\connectrc` files on multi-user machines.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| git-for-windows | git | before 2.40.1 | 2.40.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- git Vendorgit-for-windows Affected before 2.40.1 Fixed in 2.40.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:git_for_windows_project:git_for_windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.40.1 | Vulnerable | Git For Windows Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:git_for_windows_project:git_for_windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.40.1 Vulnerable ·Git For Windows Project
Remediation
- Fix · CNA git (git-for-windows) Fixed in 2.40.1
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-29011
References
More git-for-windows vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences