OpenAI Codex Desktop Hooks .git/config core.hooksPath privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in OpenAI Codex Desktop. This impacts an unknown function of the file .git/config of the component Hooks. Executing a manipulation of the argument core.hooksPath can lead to privileges management. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-19590. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenAI Codex Desktop (unknown version). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the file .git/config of the component Hooks. The manipulation of the argument core.hooksPath with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

OpenAI Codex Desktop for Windows and macOS could execute attacker-controlled Git hooks because automated Git operations trusted the repository's local core.hooksPath setting. If a user opens an attacker-prepared repository whose preserved .git/config points core.hooksPath to an attacker-controlled directory, Codex can run a malicious hook while processing the repository. The hook executes outside Codex's command sandbox, without user approval, and with the user's privileges, allowing it to read, change, or delete the user's files and access other resources available to the user's account. An ordinary Git clone does not preserve the attacker-controlled repository-local configuration required for exploitation.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-19590 since 08/12/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/01/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• OpenAI

Name

• Codex Desktop

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion