Pre-Receive Hook Path Collision Vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server Allowing Privilege Escalation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
A privilege escalation vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allowed an authenticated Enterprise admin to gain root SSH access to the appliance by exploiting a symlink escape in pre-receive hook environments. By crafting a malicious repository and environment, an attacker could replace system binaries during hook cleanup and execute a payload that adds their own SSH key to the root user’s authorized keys—thereby granting themselves root SSH access to the server. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker needed to have enterprise admin privileges. This vulnerability affected all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server prior to 3.19, and was fixed in versions 3.14.20, 3.15.15, 3.16.11, 3.17.8, 3.18.2. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Enterprise Server | 3.14 – 3.14.19; 3.15 – 3.15.14; 3.16 – 3.16.10; 3.17 – 3.17.7; 3.18 – 3.18.1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Enterprise Server VendorGitHub Affected 3.14 – 3.14.19; 3.15 – 3.15.14; 3.16 – 3.16.10; 3.17 – 3.17.7; 3.18 – 3.18.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:github:enterprise_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.14.0 to before 3.14.20; 3.15.0 to before 3.15.15; 3.16.0 to before 3.16.11; 3.17.0 to before 3.17.8; 3.18.0 to before 3.18.2 | Vulnerable | GitHub |
- cpe:2.3:a:github:enterprise_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.14.0 to before 3.14.20; 3.15.0 to before 3.15.15; 3.16.0 to before 3.16.11; 3.17.0 to before 3.17.8; 3.18.0 to before 3.18.2 Vulnerable ·GitHub
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-11578
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g39h-563w-fg8c
- 2026-10-08 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
Advisory 5
- https://docs.github.com/en/[email protected]/admin/release-notes#3.14.20
- https://docs.github.com/en/[email protected]/admin/release-notes#3.15.15
- https://docs.github.com/en/[email protected]/admin/release-notes#3.16.11
- https://docs.github.com/en/[email protected]/admin/release-notes#3.17.8
- https://docs.github.com/en/[email protected]/admin/release-notes#3.18.2
More GitHub Enterprise Server vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-04632 An authentication bypass vulnerability was present in the GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES)… CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2024-00181 Unsafe Reflection in Github Enterprise Server leading to Command Injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-00466 Privilege Escalation by Code Injection in the Management Console in GitHub Enterprise Server CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-03340 Remote code execution via git push option injection in GitHub Enterprise Server CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2024-08804 Improper signature verification in GitHub Enterprise Server CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.5
- TI-2026-08177 Server-side request forgery in GitHub Enterprise Server CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.2
Sources
- CVE-2025-11578 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-11578 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g39h-563w-fg8c · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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