Read the docs
TI-2026-67357 Aliases GHSA-5fqc-mrg8-w798

Dulwich: Symlink directory traversal in filter-branch index_filter via cross-commit state persistence

Priority LOW 38CWE-22Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
—
Privileges required
—
User interaction
—
Attack complexity
—
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
—
Fix status
Fixed

No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.

Summary

## Summary Dulwich's `filter_branch.py` `CommitFilter._apply_index_filter()` is vulnerable to symlink directory traversal. When processing commit history, materialized tree entries (including symlinks) persist in the working directory between commits, allowing a symlink from an ancestor commit to redirect file writes from a descendant commit to arbitrary filesystem locations. ## Root Cause `_apply_index_filter()` at `dulwich/filter_branch.py:212` calls `build_index_from_tree(".", tmp_index_path, ...)` which materializes all tree entries to the current working directory. The `finally` block (line 229-230) only cleans up the temporary index file (`os.unlink(tmp_index_path)`) — NOT the filesystem files written to CWD. When `process_commit()` processes parents recursively first (line 260), files materialized from ancestor commits persist and affect processing of descendant commits. On dulwich 1.2.7, `build_file_from_blob()` has no symlink protection, and `validate_path_element` only validates name patterns, not filesystem state. ## Impact An attacker can craft a malicious repository where running `filter_branch` with an index filter writes attacker-controlled content to arbitrary filesystem locations via symlink traversal. This achieves RCE if the write targets `.git/hooks/`. ## Attack Scenario 1. Attacker creates a repository where commit history (linearized) has: - Ancestor commit: tree entry `evil` (mode 120000, symlink → `/target_dir`) - Descendant commit: tree entry `evil/payload` (mode 100644, attacker content) 2. Victim clones repository and runs `filter_branch` with an index filter 3. `process_commit()` processes ancestor first → materializes `evil` as symlink to `/target_dir` in CWD 4. CWD is NOT cleaned between commits 5. Processing descendant: `os.path.exists("./evil")` → True (symlink exists). `build_file_from_blob(blob, mode, "./evil/payload")` → `open("./evil/payload", "wb")` follows intermediate symlink → writes to `/target_dir/payload` ## Suggested Fix Clean the CWD between commit iterations in `_apply_index_filter()`, or verify that no intermediate path components are symlinks before writing files. Reported by **zx (Jace)**

Why it matters now

Fix Fixed dulwich (PyPI): 1.2.8

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—dulwich (PyPI)0.23.1 to before 1.2.81.2.8Patch availableGHSA-5fqc-mrg8-w798
  • dulwich (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 0.23.1 to before 1.2.8 Fixed in 1.2.8 Patch available GHSA-5fqc-mrg8-w798

Remediation

  • Fix · GHSA-5fqc-mrg8-w798 dulwich (PyPI) Fixed in 1.2.8 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-5fqc-mrg8-w798

References

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences