CVE-2023-4759

Improper handling of case insensitive filesystems in Eclipse JGit allows arbitrary file write

Published Sep 12, 2023 CVSS 3.1 · 8.8 High EPSS 2.2% KEV · Not listed
Description
Arbitrary File Overwrite in Eclipse JGit <= 6.6.0

In Eclipse JGit, all versions <= 6.6.0.202305301015-r, a symbolic link present in a specially crafted git repository can be used to write a file to locations outside the working tree when this repository is cloned with JGit to a case-insensitive filesystem, or when a checkout from a clone of such a repository is performed on a case-insensitive filesystem.

This can happen on checkout (DirCacheCheckout), merge (ResolveMerger via its WorkingTreeUpdater), pull (PullCommand using merge), and when applying a patch (PatchApplier). This can be exploited for remote code execution (RCE), for instance if the file written outside the working tree is a git filter that gets executed on a subsequent git command.

The issue occurs only on case-insensitive filesystems, like the default filesystems on Windows and macOS. The user performing the clone or checkout must have the rights to create symbolic links for the problem to occur, and symbolic links must be enabled in the git configuration.

Setting git configuration option core.symlinks = false before checking out avoids the problem.

The issue was fixed in Eclipse JGit version 6.6.1.202309021850-r and 6.7.0.202309050840-r, available via Maven Central https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/org/eclipse/jgit/  and repo.eclipse.org https://repo.eclipse.org/content/repositories/jgit-releases/ . A backport is available in 5.13.3 starting from 5.13.3.202401111512-r.


The JGit maintainers would like to thank RyotaK for finding and reporting this issue.



Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Setting git configuration option core.symlinks = false before checking out avoids the problem.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2023-2406 Arbitrary File Overwrite in Eclipse JGit <= 6.6.0 In Eclipse JGit, all versions <= 6.6.0.202305301015-r, a symbolic link present in a specially crafted git repository can be used to write a file to locations outside the working tree when this repository is cloned with JGit to a case-insensitive filesystem, or when a checkout from a clone of such a repository is performed on a case-insensitive filesystem. This can happen on checkout (DirCacheCheckout), merge (ResolveMerger via its WorkingTreeUpdater), pull (PullCommand using merge), and when applying a patch (PatchApplier). This can be exploited for remote code execution (RCE), for instance if the file written outside the working tree is a git filter that gets executed on a subsequent git command. The issue occurs only on case-insensitive filesystems, like the default filesystems on Windows and macOS. The user performing the clone or checkout must have the rights to create symbolic links for the problem to occur, and symbolic links must be enabled in the git configuration. Setting git configuration option core.symlinks = false before checking out avoids the problem. The issue was fixed in Eclipse JGit version 6.6.1.202309021850-r and 6.7.0.202309050840-r, available via Maven Central https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/org/eclipse/jgit/  and repo.eclipse.org https://repo.eclipse.org/content/repositories/jgit-releases/ . A backport is available in 5.13.3 starting from 5.13.3.202401111512-r. The JGit maintainers would like to thank RyotaK for finding and reporting this issue.
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-3p86-9955-h393 Arbitrary File Overwrite in Eclipse JGit
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.01206}

epss

{'score': 0.0124}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apple
Apple macos
Microsoft
Microsoft windows
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Apple
Apple macos
Microsoft
Microsoft windows
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
eclipse
Published
Updated
Aug 2, 2024, 7:37 AM
Reserved
Sep 4, 2023, 4:06 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Sep 12, 2023, 10:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 6:38 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 12, 2023, 12:00 AM