# CVE-2023-23618: gitk can inadvertently call executables in the worktree

> Git for Windows gitk tool may execute malicious binaries from the current directory, allowing attackers to run arbitrary code via social engineering.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 10 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wxwv-49qw-35pm

## What is CVE-2023-23618?

CVE-2023-23618 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in git-for-windows git, published on 14 Feb 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Git for Windows is the Windows port of the revision control system Git. Prior to Git for Windows version 2.39.2, when `gitk` is run on Windows, it potentially runs executables from the current directory inadvertently, which can be exploited with some social engineering to trick users into running untrusted code. A patch is available in version 2.39.2. As a workaround, avoid using `gitk` (or Git GUI's "Visualize History" functionality) in clones of untrusted repositories.

Weakness: CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-23618?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Git for Windows Project Git for Windows.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-23618?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-23618 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-23618 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-23618 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in git-for-windows git

- [CVE-2022-24767](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24767/): Other in Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-9274](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9274/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-29011](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29011/): Git for Windows's config file of `connect.exe` is susceptible to malicious placing (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2023-29012](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29012/): Git CMD erroneously executes `doskey.exe` in the current directory, if it exists (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2023-22743](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22743/): Git for Windows' installer is susceptible to DLL side loading attacks (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-23618 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-23618 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in git-for-windows git, published on 14 Feb 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-23618 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: git-for-windows git. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23618/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23618/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-23618
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23618
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-23618

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23618/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.