ubuntu-cve-2023-25815
Vulnerability from osv_ubuntu
Published
2023-04-25 17:00
Modified
2025-09-08 16:56
Summary
Details

In Git for Windows, the Windows port of Git, no localized messages are shipped with the installer. As a consequence, Git is expected not to localize messages at all, and skips the gettext initialization. However, due to a change in MINGW-packages, the gettext() function's implicit initialization no longer uses the runtime prefix but uses the hard-coded path C:\mingw64\share\locale to look for localized messages. And since any authenticated user has the permission to create folders in C:\ (and since C:\mingw64 does not typically exist), it is possible for low-privilege users to place fake messages in that location where git.exe will pick them up in version 2.40.1. This vulnerability is relatively hard to exploit and requires social engineering. For example, a legitimate message at the end of a clone could be maliciously modified to ask the user to direct their web browser to a malicious website, and the user might think that the message comes from Git and is legitimate. It does require local write access by the attacker, though, which makes this attack vector less likely. Version 2.40.1 contains a patch for this issue. Some workarounds are available. Do not work on a Windows machine with shared accounts, or alternatively create a C:\mingw64 folder and leave it empty. Users who have administrative rights may remove the permission to create folders in C:\.

Severity
2.2 (Low)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
3.3 (Low)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
N/A (UNKNOWN)
medium
References
To clipboard 

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "Available with Ubuntu Pro (Infra-only): https://ubuntu.com/pro",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "git",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-all",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-arch",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-core",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-cvs",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-run",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-sysvinit",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-el",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-email",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-gui",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-man",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-mediawiki",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-svn",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitk",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitweb",
            "binary_version": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS",
        "name": "git",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/git@1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8?arch=source\u0026distro=esm-infra/xenial"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm8"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "1:2.5.0-1",
        "1:2.6.2-1",
        "1:2.6.3-1",
        "1:2.6.4-1",
        "1:2.7.0~rc3-1",
        "1:2.7.0-1",
        "1:2.7.3-0ubuntu1",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.1",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.2",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.3",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.4",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.5",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.6",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.7",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.8",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm1",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm3",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm4",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm5",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm6",
        "1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.10+esm7"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "git",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-all",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-cvs",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-run",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-sysvinit",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-el",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-email",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-gui",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-man",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-mediawiki",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-svn",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitk",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitweb",
            "binary_version": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:18.04:LTS",
        "name": "git",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/git@1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18?arch=source\u0026distro=bionic"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.18"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "1:2.14.1-1ubuntu4",
        "1:2.15.1-1ubuntu2",
        "1:2.17.0-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.1",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.3",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.4",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.5",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.6",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.7",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.8",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.9",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.10",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.11",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.12",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.13",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.14",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.15",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.16",
        "1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.17"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "git",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-all",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-cvs",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-run",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-sysvinit",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-el",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-email",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-gui",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-man",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-mediawiki",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-svn",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitk",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitweb",
            "binary_version": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:20.04:LTS",
        "name": "git",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/git@1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11?arch=source\u0026distro=focal"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.11"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "1:2.20.1-2ubuntu1",
        "1:2.24.0-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.24.0-1ubuntu2",
        "1:2.25.0-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu2",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.1",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.2",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.3",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.4",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.5",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.6",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.7",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.8",
        "1:2.25.1-1ubuntu3.10"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "git",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-all",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-cvs",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-run",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-daemon-sysvinit",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-email",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-gui",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-man",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-mediawiki",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "git-svn",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitk",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "gitweb",
            "binary_version": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:22.04:LTS",
        "name": "git",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/git@1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9?arch=source\u0026distro=jammy"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.9"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "1:2.32.0-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.33.1-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.1",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.2",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.4",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.5",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.6",
        "1:2.34.1-1ubuntu1.8"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [],
  "details": "In Git for Windows, the Windows port of Git, no localized messages are shipped with the installer. As a consequence, Git is expected not to localize messages at all, and skips the gettext initialization. However, due to a change in MINGW-packages, the `gettext()` function\u0027s implicit initialization no longer uses the runtime prefix but uses the hard-coded path `C:\\mingw64\\share\\locale` to look for localized messages. And since any authenticated user has the permission to create folders in `C:\\` (and since `C:\\mingw64` does not typically exist), it is possible for low-privilege users to place fake messages in that location where `git.exe` will pick them up in version 2.40.1. This vulnerability is relatively hard to exploit and requires social engineering. For example, a legitimate message at the end of a clone could be maliciously modified to ask the user to direct their web browser to a malicious website, and the user might think that the message comes from Git and is legitimate. It does require local write access by the attacker, though, which makes this attack vector less likely. Version 2.40.1 contains a patch for this issue. Some workarounds are available. Do not work on a Windows machine with shared accounts, or alternatively create a `C:\\mingw64` folder and leave it empty. Users who have administrative rights may remove the permission to create folders in `C:\\`.",
  "id": "UBUNTU-CVE-2023-25815",
  "modified": "2025-09-08T16:56:10Z",
  "published": "2023-04-25T17:00:00Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-25815"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6050-1"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25815"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7023-1"
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "USN-6050-1",
    "USN-7023-1"
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.7.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "medium",
      "type": "Ubuntu"
    }
  ],
  "upstream": [
    "CVE-2023-25815"
  ]
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.