# CVE-2023-25652: "git apply --reject" partially-controlled arbitrary file write

> Attackers can overwrite files outside the working tree via crafted patches when using git apply with the --reject flag.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2023-25652, CLEANSTART-2026-CG61867, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-25652, GHSA-2hvf-7c8p-28fx, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-25652

## What is CVE-2023-25652?

CVE-2023-25652 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 25 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Git is a revision control system. Prior to versions 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8, 2.34.8, 2.35.8, 2.36.6, 2.37.7, 2.38.5, 2.39.3, and 2.40.1, by feeding specially crafted input to `git apply --reject`, a path outside the working tree can be overwritten with partially controlled contents (corresponding to the rejected hunk(s) from the given patch). A fix is available in versions 2.30.9, 2.31.8, 2.32.7, 2.33.8, 2.34.8, 2.35.8, 2.36.6, 2.37.7, 2.38.5, 2.39.3, and 2.40.1. As a workaround, avoid using `git apply` with `--reject` when applying patches from an untrusted source. Use `git apply --stat` to inspect a patch before applying; avoid applying one that create a conflict where a link corresponding to the `*.rej` file exists.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-25652?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Git-Scm Git.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-25652?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2023-25652 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25652 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora

- [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-25652 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-25652 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 25 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25652 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Fedoraproject Fedora. 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-2023-25652/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25652/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25652
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25652
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-25652

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25652/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.