CVE-2018-11233 in Git
Summary
by MITRE
In Git before 2.13.7, 2.14.x before 2.14.4, 2.15.x before 2.15.2, 2.16.x before 2.16.4, and 2.17.x before 2.17.1, code to sanity-check pathnames on NTFS can result in reading out-of-bounds memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11233 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory read flaw within the Git version control system that specifically affects Windows operating systems utilizing the NTFS file system. This security issue stems from inadequate path name validation mechanisms implemented in Git's codebase, particularly when processing file paths on NTFS volumes where the system encounters certain edge cases in pathname handling. The vulnerability exists in multiple Git release branches including versions prior to 2.13.7, 2.14.4, 2.15.2, 2.16.4, and 2.17.1, indicating a widespread impact across several major Git versions. The flaw manifests when Git attempts to validate and sanitize file paths, particularly in scenarios involving long paths or special characters that trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying file system interaction code.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Git's insufficient bounds checking during pathname sanitization processes on NTFS file systems. When Git encounters specific path structures or file names that contain certain combinations of characters, the internal validation routines fail to properly constrain memory access operations, leading to unauthorized reads beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This out-of-bounds memory access can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, including system credentials, temporary file contents, or other confidential information stored in memory. The flaw operates at the kernel-level file system interaction layer where Git interfaces with Windows NTFS drivers, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Git is extensively used for code management and version control.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for organizations relying on Git for source code management, particularly those operating Windows environments with NTFS file systems. An attacker could potentially exploit this flaw by crafting malicious file paths or repository structures that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, thereby gaining access to memory contents that should remain protected. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the vulnerability could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or code execution depending on the memory layout and what sensitive data is accessible through the out-of-bounds read. Organizations using Git in continuous integration pipelines, code review systems, or collaborative development environments face heightened risk since these scenarios often involve processing numerous file paths and could be targeted through repository manipulation attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which classifies this issue as a fundamental memory safety problem in software development practices. This weakness is particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of Git across enterprise environments and the critical nature of source code repositories. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001: Command and Scripting Interpreter - PowerShell and T1566.001: Phishing - Spearphishing Attachment, as it could be leveraged in initial access phases where attackers craft malicious Git repositories or file paths to exploit the vulnerability. Organizations should immediately update their Git installations to patched versions, implement network monitoring to detect suspicious file path patterns, and conduct security assessments of their Git repositories to identify potential exploitation vectors. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing access controls and monitoring for Git operations to minimize the attack surface and detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.