Link following in GitHub Desktop - #VU152207
Published: September 25, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU152207
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4: 7.5 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: N/A
CWE-ID: CWE-59
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute commands with the user's privileges.
The vulnerability exists due to improper link resolution before file access in the repository-root .gitignore handling helper when processing repository-derived ignore rules. A remote attacker can provide a repository containing a root .gitignore symbolic link and crafted path data to cause content to be appended to a file outside the clone.
Exploitation requires the user to invoke an affected ignore action, symbolic-link support to be enabled, and another application to interpret the modified external file.
Affected software
GitHub Desktop
Remediation
Install security update from vendor's website.
GitHub Desktop - update to 3.6.6