CVE-2024-4981 in Pagure
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2025
A vulnerability was discovered in Pagure server. If a malicious user were to submit a git repository with symbolic links, the server could unintentionally show incorporate and make visible content from outside the git repo.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4981 affects the Pagure server, a web-based Git repository management system commonly used for hosting and managing software projects. This issue represents a significant security flaw that could allow unauthorized access to system resources beyond the intended repository boundaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of symbolic links within git repositories, creating a path traversal condition that undermines the isolation guarantees typically provided by version control systems.
The technical flaw manifests when the Pagure server processes git repositories containing symbolic links that point outside the repository directory structure. During repository operations such as file listing, content retrieval, or web interface rendering, the server fails to properly sanitize or restrict symbolic link resolution, allowing attackers to craft malicious repositories that can expose files and directories outside the intended repository scope. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and breaks the fundamental security model that separates repository contents from the underlying filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive information that should remain isolated within the repository context. An attacker could construct a malicious git repository with carefully crafted symbolic links pointing to system files, configuration data, or other sensitive resources on the server filesystem. This could lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or even remote code execution depending on the server configuration and the accessibility of the targeted files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments where multiple projects are hosted on the same server instance.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-352 Cross-Site Request Forgery categories, representing a classic path traversal attack vector that exploits insufficient input validation. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1083 File and Directory Discovery and potentially T1566 Impersonation, as it enables unauthorized access to system resources through manipulated repository content. Organizations using Pagure server should immediately implement mitigations including strict validation of repository contents, disabling symbolic link processing in repository operations, and implementing proper access controls to limit repository creation privileges to trusted users only. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input sanitization and containment mechanisms in web-based version control systems, particularly when handling user-uploaded content that may contain maliciously crafted filesystem references.