CVE-2026-106059 in GitAhead
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
GitAhead through 2.7.1 on macOS contains a command injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute shell commands by crafting repository filenames interpolated unescaped into the Show in Finder AppleScript. Attackers can commit a file whose path contains a double quote followed by a do shell script payload, which runs as the victim user when Show in Finder is chosen.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
GitAhead version 2.7.1 and earlier for macOS suffers from a critical command injection vulnerability rooted in improper input validation within its graphical interface integration features. The flaw specifically affects the functionality that allows users to reveal selected repository files or directories in the native macOS Finder application via an AppleScript mechanism known as Show in Finder. When this feature is invoked, GitAhead constructs an AppleScript string intended to open the specified path using the system's file manager. However, the implementation fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters present within the filename or directory path provided by the user before interpolating it into the script command structure. This lack of escaping creates a classic injection vector where maliciously crafted input can break out of the intended string context and execute arbitrary commands under the privileges of the currently logged-in user.
The technical mechanism of exploitation relies on the specific syntax requirements of AppleScript, which uses double quotes to delimit strings. An attacker who has write access to a Git repository managed by GitAhead can create a file or directory with a name designed to terminate the intended string and inject new script commands. By naming a file with a path component that begins with a closing double quote followed immediately by malicious shell code, such as do shell script echo pwned, the attacker forces the AppleScript interpreter to execute the injected payload instead of merely opening the file location. Because GitAhead runs these scripts within the context of the victim's user session without elevated privileges or sandboxing restrictions that would limit system-level changes, any command executed will have full access to the user’s files, environment variables, and potentially network resources. This allows for remote code execution if an attacker can trick a victim into opening a malicious repository, such as through social engineering or by compromising a shared development workspace.
From a security classification perspective, this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command commonly known as OS Command Injection. The root cause lies in CWE-20 Incorrect Input Handling where the application fails to validate that user-supplied data conforms to expected formats before using it in system commands. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically sub-technique T1059.004 Unix Shell which involves the use of shell scripts or command interpreters to execute arbitrary code. The impact is severe because it bypasses standard application-level security controls by leveraging legitimate system utilities for malicious purposes, effectively turning a convenience feature into an attack vector that compromises confidentiality and integrity of user data.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Users should immediately upgrade to GitAhead version 2.7.2 or later where this vulnerability has been patched by implementing proper escaping mechanisms for all strings interpolated into AppleScript commands. Developers integrating similar functionality in other applications must ensure that any user-controlled data passed to system interpreters is strictly validated against a whitelist of allowed characters and properly escaped using language-specific secure APIs rather than manual string concatenation. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege by running such GUI components with restricted permissions can limit the blast radius if an injection occurs. Security awareness training for development teams should emphasize the dangers of interpolating untrusted input into command strings across all operating system interfaces including shell scripts, batch files, and native API calls to prevent similar injection flaws in future software releases.