---
id: CVE-2023-22490
title: Git is a revision control system
summary: >-
  Git is a revision control system. Using a specially-crafted repository, Git
  prior to versions 2.39.2, 2.38.4, 2.37.6, 2.36.5, 2.35.7, 2.34.7, 2.33.7,
  2.32.6, 2.31.7, and 2.30.8 can be tricked into using its local clone
  optimization even …
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-59
  - CWE-59
vendor: git-scm
product: git
affected:
  - git < 2.30.8
  - 'git >= 2.31.0, < 2.31.7'
  - 'git >= 2.32.0, < 2.32.6'
  - 'git >= 2.33.0, < 2.33.7'
  - 'git >= 2.34.0, < 2.34.7'
  - 'git >= 2.35.0, < 2.35.7'
  - 'git >= 2.36.0, < 2.36.5'
  - 'git >= 2.37.0, < 2.37.6'
  - 'git >= 2.38.0, < 2.38.4'
  - 'git >= 2.39.0, < 2.39.2'
patched:
  - git 2.39.2
published: '2023-02-14'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T22:17:22.817'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22490'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/commit/c867e4fa180bec4750e9b54eb10f459030dbebfd'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-3wp6-j8xr-qw85'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-gw92-x3fm-3g3q'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-15'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/commit/c867e4fa180bec4750e9b54eb10f459030dbebfd'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-3wp6-j8xr-qw85'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-gw92-x3fm-3g3q'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-15'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.0071
epssPercentile: 0.52097
exploits:
  github: 1
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/smash8tap/CVE-2023-22490_PoC'
  checkedAt: '2026-10-08T23:17:21.759Z'
exploitAvailable: true
ingestedAt: '2026-10-08T23:16:47.348Z'
---

## Overview

Git is a revision control system. Using a specially-crafted repository, Git prior to versions 2.39.2, 2.38.4, 2.37.6, 2.36.5, 2.35.7, 2.34.7, 2.33.7, 2.32.6, 2.31.7, and 2.30.8 can be tricked into using its local clone optimization even when using a non-local transport. Though Git will abort local clones whose source `$GIT_DIR/objects` directory contains symbolic links, the `objects` directory itself may still be a symbolic link. These two may be combined to include arbitrary files based on known paths on the victim's filesystem within the malicious repository's working copy, allowing for data exfiltration in a similar manner as CVE-2022-39253.

A fix has been prepared and will appear in v2.39.2 v2.38.4 v2.37.6 v2.36.5 v2.35.7 v2.34.7 v2.33.7 v2.32.6, v2.31.7 and v2.30.8. If upgrading is impractical, two short-term workarounds are available. Avoid cloning repositories from untrusted sources with `--recurse-submodules`. Instead, consider cloning repositories without recursively cloning their submodules, and instead run `git submodule update` at each layer. Before doing so, inspect each new `.gitmodules` file to ensure that it does not contain suspicious module URLs.

## Affected

- `git < 2.30.8`
- `git >= 2.31.0, < 2.31.7`
- `git >= 2.32.0, < 2.32.6`
- `git >= 2.33.0, < 2.33.7`
- `git >= 2.34.0, < 2.34.7`
- `git >= 2.35.0, < 2.35.7`
- `git >= 2.36.0, < 2.36.5`
- `git >= 2.37.0, < 2.37.6`
- `git >= 2.38.0, < 2.38.4`
- `git >= 2.39.0, < 2.39.2`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `git 2.39.2`