Description

GitPython: Unguarded git read-tree option forwarding in IndexFile.from_tree/reset/merge_tree enables arbitrary file overwrite

Summary

IndexFile.from_tree, IndexFile.reset (→ from_tree) and IndexFile.merge_tree append caller-influenced treeish strings positionally to git read-tree with no unsafe-option guard, no allow_unsafe_options parameter, and no -- separator. git read-tree --index-output=<file> writes the resulting index to an arbitrary path, and last-occurrence-wins lets an injected --index-output override the method's internal temp path — clobbering an arbitrary file with a valid git-index blob. This is a distinct, never-guarded sink: commit 3af0c251 (GHSA-3f7w-8rr8-f37f) guarded only checkout_index and tag; read_tree was left unprotected (it is among the acknowledged unguarded call sites in that advisory's sweep but was never reported or fixed).

Root Cause

from_tree (index/base.py:388), reset (delegates to from_tree), and merge_tree (index/base.py:291) call repo.git.read_tree(*arg_list) with no check_unsafe_options and no --. The treeish is caller-influenced and positional.

Impact

Arbitrary file overwrite / destruction at the privileges of the host process. Content is constrained to a git-index blob (not attacker-chosen, so not RCE), but the target path is fully attacker-controlled — corrupting/truncating configs or destroying files at attacker-chosen writable locations = I:H + A:H (per the skill's "overwrite-any-path = I:H" rule). Pure VALUE control (positional treeish). Default configuration.

Proof of Concept

IndexFile.from_tree(repo, "--index-output=/home/victim/.bashrc")
# target overwritten with a valid git-index blob (DIRC...)

Attack Chain

Entry: app calls IndexFile.from_tree(repo, treeish) / reset(commit=…) / merge_tree(base=…, rhs=…) with attacker treeish="--index-output=/home/victim/.bashrc".

Check: NONE — the methods have no allow_unsafe_options and never call check_unsafe_options.

Sink: repo.git.read_tree(*arg_list) — no --. argv (from_tree, observed): ['git','read-tree','--index-output=<tmp>','--index-output=/…/victim'] (last-wins).

Impact: target path created/overwritten with a valid git-index blob; existing content destroyed.

Bypass Evidence

Independently reproduced (gate harness): IndexFile.from_tree(repo,'--index-output=<victim>') → victim overwritten; before=IMPORTANT ORIGINAL CONTENT, after starts DIRC\x00\x00\x00\x02… (destructive clobber, valid index blob). reset(commit=…) and both merge_tree positionals verified. Fix-commit read: 3af0c251 touched only checkout_index+tag; read_tree untouched on HEAD.

Affected Versions

GitPython <= 3.1.57 (sinks present verbatim on the latest release tag).

Suggested Fix

Add a check_unsafe_options guard (with an allow_unsafe_options parameter) to from_tree/reset/merge_tree, and/or place a -- separator before the positional treeish arguments; block --index-output (a path-taking option) on this sink.

Reported by zx (Jace) — GitHub: @manus-use

Mitigation

Aliases

References