--- title: "CVE-2021-21300: malicious repositories can execute remote… | CubePath" description: "Git is an open-source distributed revision control system. In affected versions of Git a specially crafted repository that contains symbolic links…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-21300 --- # CVE-2021-21300: malicious repositories can execute remote… | CubePath ## Description Git is an open-source distributed revision control system. In affected versions of Git a specially crafted repository that contains symbolic links as well as files using a clean/smudge filter such as Git LFS, may cause just-checked out script to be executed while cloning onto a case-insensitive file system such as NTFS, HFS+ or APFS (i.e. the default file systems on Windows and macOS). Note that clean/smudge filters have to be configured for that. Git for Windows configures Git LFS by default, and is therefore vulnerable. The problem has been patched in the versions published on Tuesday, March 9th, 2021\. As a workaound, if symbolic link support is disabled in Git (e.g. via \`git config --global core.symlinks false\`), the described attack won't work. Likewise, if no clean/smudge filters such as Git LFS are configured globally (i.e. \_before\_ cloning), the attack is foiled. As always, it is best to avoid cloning repositories from untrusted sources. The earliest impacted version is 2.14.2\. The fix versions are: 2.30.1, 2.29.3, 2.28.1, 2.27.1, 2.26.3, 2.25.5, 2.24.4, 2.23.4, 2.22.5, 2.21.4, 2.20.5, 2.19.6, 2.18.5, 2.17.62.17.6. Official description from the CVE record, published by GitHub\_M. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-21300) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 High 8.0 Score published by GitHub\_M in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. | | Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. | | Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. | | User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. | | Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | None | No effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.88533 (88.5% probability) Percentile 99.8% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-59](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html) Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - git - affected: >= 2.14.2, < 2.17.62.17.6 - affected: >= 2.18.0, < 2.18.5 - affected: >= 2.19.0, < 2.19.6 - affected: >= 2.20.0, < 2.20.5 - affected: >= 2.21.0, < 2.21.4 - affected: >= 2.22.0, < 2.22.5 - affected: >= 2.23.0, < 2.23.4 - affected: >= 2.24.0, < 2.24.4 - affected: >= 2.25.0, < 2.25.5 - affected: >= 2.26.0, < 2.26.3 - affected: >= 2.27.0, < 2.27.1 - affected: >= 2.28.0, < 2.28.1 - affected: >= 2.29.0, < 2.29.3 - affected: >= 2.30.0, < 2.30.1 ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-8prw-h3cq-mghm](https://github.com/git/git/security/advisories/GHSA-8prw-h3cq-mghm) - [lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqim6019yd.fsf%40gitster.c.googlers.c…](https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqim6019yd.fsf%40gitster.c.googlers.com/) - [git-scm.com/docs/git-config](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-config#Documentation/git-config.txt-coresymlinks) - [git-scm.com/docs/gitattributes](https://git-scm.com/docs/gitattributes#%5Ffilter) - [github.com/git/git/commit/684dd4c2b414bcf648505e74498a608f2…](https://github.com/git/git/commit/684dd4c2b414bcf648505e74498a608f28de4592) - [\[oss-security\] 20210309 git: malicious repositories can execute remote code while cloning](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/09/3) (openwall.com) mailing-list - [FEDORA-2021-63fcbd126e](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LCLJJLKKMS5WRFO6C475AOUZTWQLIARX/) (lists.fedoraproject.org) vendor-advisory - [FEDORA-2021-ffd0b2108d](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LMXX2POK5X576BSDWSXGU7EIK6I72ERU/) (lists.fedoraproject.org) vendor-advisory - [FEDORA-2021-03e61a6647](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BBPNGLQSYJHLZZ37BO42YY6S5OTIF4L4/) (lists.fedoraproject.org) vendor-advisory - [support.apple.com/kb/HT212320](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT212320) - [20210427 APPLE-SA-2021-04-26-10 Xcode 12.5](http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Apr/60) (seclists.org) mailing-list - [GLSA-202104-01](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202104-01) (security.gentoo.org) vendor-advisory - [packetstormsecurity.com/files/163978/Git-LFS-Clone-Command-…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163978/Git-LFS-Clone-Command-Execution.html) - [\[debian-lts-announce\] 20221010 \[SECURITY\] \[DLA 3145-1\] git security update](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/10/msg00014.html) (lists.debian.org) mailing-list ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Dec 22, 2020 2. Record published Mar 9, 2021 3. Record last updated Aug 3, 2024 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:05 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)