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GitPython: --no-index bypasses diff unsafe-option protections and enables a blind local-file content oracle

Type: advisorySource: OSV1 source record

### Summary GitPython 3.1.59 blocks a previously available local-file read path through unsafe git diff options such as -O/--orderfile. However, the high-level diff API still permits --no-index with the default allow_unsafe_options=False. --no-index changes the semantics of the paths arguments: instead of repository-relative pathspecs, Git interprets them as arbitrary filesystem paths. When combined with the still-allowed -I/--ignore-matching-lines option, this creates a content-dependent Boolean oracle over a caller-selected local file. This was reproduced against the published GitPython 3.1.59 wheel. The original unsafe-option path is blocked in 3.1.59, while this alternate path remains reachable without setting allow_unsafe_options=True. ### Details Confirmed API surface: repo.index.diff( None, no_index=True, I=pattern, paths=[baseline_path, target_path], create_patch=True, ) The relevant behavior is: 1. --no-index makes the two values supplied via paths filesystem operands rather than repository pathspecs. 2. -I/--ignore-matching-lines makes Git's result depend on whether the supplied regular expression matches the relevant file content. 3. GitPython exposes the resulting bit through distinguishable behavior: - matching condition: normal return with an empty DiffIndex - non-matching condition: GitCommandError with exit status 1 An application that forwards attacker-influenced diff options and paths and exposes the success/error distinction can therefore be queried repeate

Announced Source revision 1
Original source ↗

GHSA-whh4-5q6c-9v3x

Primary source · Revision 1

Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.

Security context

Source reference: osv:GHSA-whh4-5q6c-9v3x

gitpython

Source reference: /affected/0/package/name

Affected versions
3.1.59

Source reference: /affected/0/versions

Fixed versions
3.1.60

Source reference: /affected/0/ranges

Prerequisites
Not stated in this record

Structured affected-version data

Original package identities and version rules from this source.

[
  {
    "ranges": [
      {
        "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
        "events": [
          {
            "introduced": "3.1.59"
          },
          {
            "fixed": "3.1.60"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "package": {
      "name": "gitpython",
      "purl": "pkg:pypi/gitpython",
      "ecosystem": "PyPI"
    },
    "versions": [
      "3.1.59"
    ],
    "database_specific": {
      "source": "https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/09/GHSA-whh4-5q6c-9v3x/GHSA-whh4-5q6c-9v3x.json"
    }
  }
]
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-87818

Source reference: /aliases

Publisher severity

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Event
#62467 · Revision 1
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