---
title: "CVE-2026-12537: Gemini CLI: Remote Code Execution via workspace trust and tool allowlisting bypasses"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-12537/
description: "CVE-2026-12537 (@google/gemini-cli (npm)): Improper Neutralization used in an OS Command in the container launcher in Google Gemini CLI (versions prior to…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-06-24
date_modified: 2026-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-12537"
kev: false
cvss: 10
epss: 0.00212
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-12537: Gemini CLI: Remote Code Execution via workspace trust and tool allowlisting bypasses

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.2% , percentile 11: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 11% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes @google/gemini-cli (npm) < 0.39.1, fixed in 0.39.1 ; @google/gemini-cli (npm) = 0.40.0-preview.2, fixed in 0.40.0-preview.3 ; google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli (GitHub Actions) < 0.1.22, fixed in 0.1.22 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
- Editorial verdict: Check exposure. Gemini CLI and Claude Code Flaws Expose CI Secrets — If an AI coding agent runs in your CI on content outsiders can write (issues, PRs, comments), check versions and workflow permissions this week; laptop users on auto-update already have the fixes.

## What it is

Improper Neutralization used in an OS Command in the container launcher in Google Gemini CLI (versions prior to 0.39.1) and run-gemini-cli GitHub Action (versions prior to 0.1.22) on headless CI platforms allows an unprivileged attacker to achieve pre-sandbox host-level code execution a maliciously crafted .gemini/.env file.

## Affected packages

- npm `@google/gemini-cli` < 0.39.1 → fixed: 0.39.1
- npm `@google/gemini-cli` = 0.40.0-preview.2 → fixed: 0.40.0-preview.3
- GitHub Actions `google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli` < 0.1.22 → fixed: 0.1.22

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Google Cloud Gemini CLI: < 0.39.1
- Google Cloud run-gemini-cli GitHub Action: < 0.1.22

## Severity

- GoogleCloud CVSS 4.0: 10 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/U:Clear`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 10.0 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.21% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 11.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-12537](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-12537)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-12537](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12537)
- [github.com](https://github.com/google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli/security/advisories/GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-12537/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt