CVE-2026-76231 in Renovate
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Renovate versions from 32.135.0 before 40.33.0 contain a command injection vulnerability in the hermit manager where user-provided dependency names are appended to install and uninstall commands without proper sanitization. Attackers with repository write access can provide maliciously named hermit dependencies to execute arbitrary commands on the machine running Renovate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the Hermit package manager integration of Renovate, specifically affecting versions ranging from 32.135.0 up to but not including 40.33.0. This vulnerability constitutes a classic command injection issue where user-supplied input is improperly handled before being passed to system-level execution functions. The root cause lies in the insufficient sanitization of dependency names provided by repository contributors or maintainers. When Renovate processes these dependencies, it constructs shell commands for installation and uninstallation operations without adequately validating that the input consists solely of expected alphanumeric characters and safe delimiters. This lack of strict validation allows an attacker to inject additional command-line arguments or separate commands into the execution string, thereby breaking out of the intended context of a simple package management operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Renovate for automated dependency updates in environments where Hermit is used as the underlying tooling. An adversary with write access to a repository can craft a maliciously named dependency that, when processed by Renovate, results in the execution of arbitrary operating system commands on the host machine running the Renovate process. This effectively grants the attacker remote code execution capabilities within the context of the user or service account executing Renovate. Such compromise could lead to data exfiltration, lateral movement across internal networks, installation of persistent backdoors, or complete takeover of the affected infrastructure, depending on the privileges held by the running process and the connectivity available from that host.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, commonly referred to as command injection. The attack vector leverages the trust placed in repository content, exploiting the automated nature of dependency management tools which often execute commands on behalf of users without explicit confirmation for each individual package operation. In terms of adversary behavior, this technique corresponds to ATT&CK tactic T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically sub-techniques involving shell command injection or indirect command execution through trusted applications. The vulnerability highlights the risks associated with automated tools that interact directly with operating system shells without rigorous input validation boundaries.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary defense is to upgrade Renovate to version 40.33.0 or later, where this specific sanitization flaw has been addressed by the development team through stricter input filtering and safer execution methods that do not rely on shell interpretation for dependency names. For environments unable to immediately patch, restricting repository write access to only highly trusted individuals can reduce the attack surface significantly. Additionally, running Renovate with minimal privileges using principle of least privilege ensures that even if command injection occurs, the potential damage is contained within a restricted user context rather than full system administration rights. Implementing strict allow-lists for allowed characters in dependency names at the configuration level or through custom pre-commit hooks can also provide an additional layer of defense against malformed inputs before they reach the execution engine.