---
title: "CVE-2026-78676: GitPython: Dormant multi-line git-config values are corrupted into live injected directives (e.g. core.hooksPath) on any unrelated GitConfigParser write, enabling RCE"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-78676/
description: "CVE-2026-78676 (GitPython (PyPI)): GitPython before 3.1.59 fails to safely re-serialize multi-line git-config values during write operations, corrupting…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-08-25
date_modified: 2026-10-08
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-78676"
kev: false
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.00775
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-78676: GitPython: Dormant multi-line git-config values are corrupted into live injected directives (e.g. core.hooksPath) on any unrelated GitConfigParser write, enabling RCE

**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 0.8% , percentile 55: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 55% of all scored CVEs (moderate). 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 GitPython (PyPI) <= 3.1.58, fixed in 3.1.59 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

GitPython before 3.1.59 fails to safely re-serialize multi-line git-config values during write operations, corrupting dormant quoted values into injected directives like core.hooksPath. Attackers can craft config files with embedded newlines that become live git directives after any unrelated GitPython config write, enabling arbitrary code execution via hook invocation.

## Affected packages

- PyPI `GitPython` <= 3.1.58 → fixed: 3.1.59

## Affected products (CVE record)

- gitpython-developers GitPython: < 3.1.59

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- VulnCheck CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`

## 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): 0.78% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 55.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-284h-m62q-gf8w)](https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-284h-m62q-gf8w)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-284h-m62q-gf8w](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-284h-m62q-gf8w)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-78676](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-78676)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-78676](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78676)
- [VulnCheck Advisory: GitPython before 3.1.59 Remote Code Execution via Config Injection](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/gitpython-before-remote-code-execution-via-config-injection)
- [github.com](https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2026-3786.yaml)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-78676/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt