CVE-2020-26233
HIGHEPSS 93th pctlDescription
Git Credential Manager Core (GCM Core) is a secure Git credential helper built on .NET Core that runs on Windows and macOS. In Git Credential Manager Core before version 2.0.289, when recursively cloning a Git repository on Windows with submodules, Git will first clone the top-level repository and then recursively clone all submodules by starting new Git processes from the top-level working directory. If a malicious git.exe executable is present in the top-level repository then this binary will be started by Git Credential Manager Core when attempting to read configuration, and not git.exe as found on the %PATH%. This only affects GCM Core on Windows, not macOS or Linux-based distributions. GCM Core version 2.0.289 contains the fix for this vulnerability, and is available from the project's GitHub releases page. GCM Core 2.0.289 is also bundled in the latest Git for Windows release; version 2.29.2(3). As a workaround, users should avoid recursively cloning untrusted repositories with the --recurse-submodules option.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Exploit Intelligence
High risk: more likely to be exploited than 93% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-706 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-24813 | Critical | 9.8 | 100% | KEV | Fix |
| CVE-2020-15505 | Critical | 9.8 | 100% | KEV | Fix |
| CVE-2021-40539 | Critical | 9.8 | 99% | KEV + Ransom | Fix |
| CVE-2024-27292 | High | 7.5 | 69% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2021-40856 | High | 7.5 | 51% | - | - |
| CVE-2021-24122 | Medium | 5.9 | 23% | - | Fix |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2020-26233?
Upgrade git credential manager core to 2.0.289 or later.
Is CVE-2020-26233 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2020-26233 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 5.9% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 93% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2020-26233?
CVE-2020-26233 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.3, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2020-26233 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for git credential manager core (NVD). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
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Markdown
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2024-11-21.