Medium

GitPython: Incomplete unsafe_git_revision_options denylist omits --contents/-S, enabling arbitrary file read via Repo.blame()

  • Disclosed: 25.08.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 15:17

Summary

Repo.blame() / Repo.blame_incremental() guard forwarded revision options against unsafe_git_revision_options, but that denylist only contains the file-WRITE options --output/-o. git blame also honors --contents <file> and -S <file>, which cause the file's lines to be echoed into the blame result — an arbitrary file READ. Neither option is in the denylist, so a caller-influenced revision value of --contents=<path> passes the guard and leaks file contents. This is a distinct sink-option and impact class (READ) from GHSA-956x-8gvw-wg5v (which addressed the blame --output WRITE), directly analogous to GHSA-539m-9xh6-q6rr (archive READ gap accepted separately from the archive write/exec advisory).

Root Cause

unsafe_git_revision_options = ["--output","-o"] (git/repo/base.py:188). The rev string is passed to _option_candidates([rev], kwargs) and placed BEFORE the -- separator (base.py:841). The canonical name of --contents=... is contents, which is not on the denylist, so no UnsafeOptionError is raised. The trailing -- protects only the pathspec, not the option before the revision.

Impact

Arbitrary local file read at the privileges of the host process; the file's line contents appear in the blame result returned to the caller. Pure VALUE control (the caller forwards a user-influenced revision string). Default allow_unsafe_options=False.

Proof of Concept

python
result = repo.blame("--contents=/etc/passwd", "a.txt")
# result rows carry the victim file's line text

Attack Chain

  1. Entry: app calls repo.blame(rev, file) with attacker rev="--contents=/etc/passwd" (or kwarg contents="/etc/passwd", or -S).
  2. Check: Git.check_unsafe_options(_option_candidates([rev,...], kwargs), unsafe_git_revision_options) @ base.py:841. Guard: denylist = ["--output","-o"] only. Bypass proof: canonical name contents ∉ denylist → no error.
  3. Sink: self.git.blame(rev, "--", file, p=True, ...). argv (observed): ['git','blame','-p','--contents=<secret>','HEAD','--','a.txt'].
  4. Impact: blame result rows carry the victim file's line text.

Bypass Evidence

Independently reproduced (independent test harness, default allow_unsafe_options=False): blame('--contents=<secret>','a.txt') → guard PASSED; result rows = ['GATE_SECRET_LINE_A','GATE_SECRET_LINE_B']. Control: blame('--output=…') still BLOCKED (guard active on this path). -S kwarg argv also reaches git unguarded.

Affected Versions

GitPython <= 3.1.58 (denylist present verbatim on the latest release tag).

Suggested Fix

Prefer an allowlist of blame options; at minimum add --contents/-S (and any other path-taking blame options) to unsafe_git_revision_options, and make the membership rule "the option takes a filesystem path" rather than "the option writes output".


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

Affected software

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PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) gitpython < 3.1.59 3.1.59

References

CVSS score 6.5/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200, CWE-88
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
gitpython
Disclosed
25.08.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 15:17

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-3788 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5xxx-qhh7-9287 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: gitpython

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (37) in the archive
Total entries
37
First → latest
12.2022 09.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 3
  • High 26
  • Medium 8

Disclosures per year

  1. 2022: 1
  2. 2023: 3
  3. 2024: 1
  4. 2025: 0
  5. 2026: 32
Severity:
  1. GitPython: Incomplete unsafe_git_revision_options denylist omits --contents/-S, enabling arbitrary file read via Repo.blame() this entry
    Medium · 6.5 CVE-2026-78678 < 3.1.59 3.1.59
  2. High · 8.8 CVE-2026-42215 >= 3.1.30, < 3.1.47 3.1.47

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