GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5

Suggest an improvement
Source
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5
Import Source
https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/10/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5.json
JSON Data
https://api.test.osv.dev/v1/vulns/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5
Aliases
Published
2026-10-05T23:47:58Z
Modified
2026-10-06T00:00:11Z
Severity
  • 8.1 (High) CVSS_V3 - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H CVSS Calculator
Summary
simple-git: unsafe-operations plugin bypass via git long-option abbreviation (--receive-p/--exe) -> command execution (residual of CVE-2026-28291)
Details

simple-git's blockUnsafeOperationsPlugin blocks dangerous git options (--upload-pack/--receive-pack/--exec/...) unless the consumer opts in via unsafe:{allowUnsafePack:true}. Detection (@simple-git/argv-parser detectVulnerableFlags) matches the parsed flag NAME against literal-spelling patterns: /--(upload|receive)-pack/ (requires the literal '-pack') and the string '--exec'. But git accepts unambiguous prefix abbreviations of long options, and expandToken (token-expander.ts) returns the LITERAL token as flag.name (it uses the spec only for needsNext, never to canonicalize). So git push --receive-p=<cmd> parses with flag.name='--receive-p', which /--(upload|receive)-pack/ does NOT match, yet git expands --receive-p -> --receive-pack and runs (on a local/file remote, locally). The clone side is robust (its '--u' substring rule catches every --upload* abbreviation); the push --receive-* and --exe* abbreviations have no equivalent rule and slip through.

Proof of concept (latest: simple-git 3.36.0, @simple-git/argv-parser 1.1.1, default unsafe plugin ON): Gate vulnerabilityCheck: 'push --receive-pack=touch...' -> BLOCKED; 'push --receive-pa=touch...' and 'push --receive-p=touch...' -> BYPASS (empty vulns); '--exec=' BLOCKED, '--exe=' BYPASS. End-to-end via simpleGit().push(): CONTROL git.push(['../bare','HEAD:refs/heads/c','--receive-pack=touch /tmp/pwned_ctrl;']) -> throws GitPluginError 'Use of --upload-pack or --receive-pack is not permitted...'; no command runs. BYPASS git.push(['../bare','HEAD:refs/heads/e2e','--receive-p=touch /tmp/pwned_e2e;']) -> NO GitPluginError; /tmp/pwned_e2e CREATED (git executed the injected command); only a later GitError surfaces. Direct git confirms git push ../bare --receive-p='touch X;' HEAD:refs/heads/m and --exe='touch Y;' both execute on a local/path remote.

Impact: any app relying on simple-git's default unsafe-operations protection while passing attacker-influenced options/args into a git push (local/file remote, or attacker-influenced receive-pack target) can be made to execute arbitrary commands -- the exact protection CVE-2026-28291 provided, defeated by an abbreviated spelling. Same class/impact as GHSA-jcxm-m3jx-f287, on the push path.

Remediation: canonicalize git option abbreviations before matching (resolve to the canonical long name via the per-task flag spec in expandToken), or match on the option stem/prefix down to the shortest unambiguous form for push receive-pack/exec (mirroring the clone-side '--u' approach). Also audit --template and -c/config-write detection for the same abbreviation gap.

Credit: anir0y (independent security research).

Database specific
{
    "cwe_ids": [
        "CWE-77",
        "CWE-88"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-10-05T23:47:58Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-09-29T19:17:25Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
}
References

Affected packages

npm / simple-git

Package

Affected ranges

Type
SEMVER
Events
Introduced
0 Unknown introduced version / All previous versions are affected
Fixed
4.0.0

Database specific

last_known_affected_version_range
"<= 3.36.0"
source
"https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/10/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5/GHSA-858h-whjf-mvg5.json"