CVE-2018-17456
CriticalPublic exploitGit before 2.14.5, 2.15.x before 2.15.3, 2.16.x before 2.16.5, 2.17.x before 2.17.2, 2.18.x before 2.18.1, and 2.19.x before 2.19.1 allows remote code execution during processing of a recursive "git clone" of a superproject if a .gitmodules file has a URL field beginning with a…
Published Oct 6, 2018 · Updated Aug 7, 2026 · Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2018-17456, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-17456, DLA-1533-1, DSA-4311-1, SUSE-SU-2018:3150-1, SUSE-SU-2018:4009-1, SUSE-SU-2018:4088-1, SUSE-SU-2018:4088-2, SUSE-SU-2018:4088-3, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-17456, USN-3791-1
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2018-17456 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Git (Git-Scm), Ansible Tower (Redhat), Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) and 22 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 97% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including emacs-git 1.7.1-10.el6_10, emacs-git 1.8.3.1-20.el7, emacs-git 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
97%
Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
No known
Not in a known-exploited catalog
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2018-17456 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
Git before 2.14.5, 2.15.x before 2.15.3, 2.16.x before 2.16.5, 2.17.x before 2.17.2, 2.18.x before 2.18.1, and 2.19.x before 2.19.1 allows remote code execution during processing of a recursive "git clone" of a superproject if a .gitmodules file has a URL field beginning with a '-' character.
Affected Products
282 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| GitGit-Scm | See advisory | 2.14.5 |
| Ansible TowerRedhat | 3.3 | n/a |
| Ubuntu LinuxCanonical | 14.04, 16.04, 18.04 | n/a |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 9.0 | n/a |
| Enterprise LinuxRedhat | 6.0, 6.7, 7.0, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6 | n/a |
Patched Releases
emacs-git
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1
emacs-git-el
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1
Git
0:1.7.1-10.el6_10, 0:1.8.3.1-20.el7, 1:1.9.1-1ubuntu0.9, 1:2.1.4-2.1+deb8u7, 1:2.11.0-3+deb9u4, 1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.3, 1:2.19.1-1, 1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.5, 1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.11.3-r2, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.13.7-r1, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.15.3-r0, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.18.1-r0, 2.19.1-1, 2.19.1-r0, 2.23.0-1.ph1, 2.23.0-1.ph2, 2.23.0-1.ph3, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3, 2.43.7-1.ph5, NA, 2.14.5
git-all
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2
git-arch
2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-bzr
1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1
git-core
2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-core-doc
2.14.5-1.amzn2
git-credential-gnome-keyring
2.13.7-16.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-credential-libsecret
2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-cvs
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-daemon
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-doc
2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-email
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-extras
2.43.7-1.ph5, NA
git-gnome-keyring
1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.amzn2
git-gui
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-hg
1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1
git-instaweb
1.8.3.1-20.el7
git-lang
2.43.7-1.ph5, NA
git-p4
1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-svn
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
git-web
2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
gitk
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.12.3-27.17.2, 2.13.7-16.1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2, 2.16.4-3.6.1, 2.16.4-lp150.2.6.1, 2.26.1-3.25.2, 2.26.1-lp151.4.9.1, 2.33.0-1.3
gitweb
1.7.1-10.el6_10, 1.8.3.1-20.el7, 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1, 2.14.5-1.amzn2
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Oct 6, 2018
Last updated
Aug 7, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-77 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
- CWE-88 Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
References
- advisoryhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152173/Sourcetree-Git-Arbitrary-Code-Execution-URL-Handling.html
- advisoryRHSA-2018:3408
- advisoryRHSA-2018:3505
- advisoryRHSA-2018:3541
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1063412
FAQ
Common Questions.
Git before 2.14.5, 2.15.x before 2.15.3, 2.16.x before 2.16.5, 2.17.x before 2.17.2, 2.18.x before 2.18.1, and 2.19.x before 2.19.1 allows remote code execution during processing of a recursive "git clone" of a superproject if a .gitmodules file has a URL field beginning with a '-' character.
Affected: Git (Git-Scm); Ansible Tower (Redhat) versions 3.3; Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) versions 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including emacs-git 1.7.1-10.el6_10, emacs-git 1.8.3.1-20.el7, emacs-git 2.14.5-1.59.amzn1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
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