Command Injection in degit Package

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-11572 is a command injection vulnerability in the degit package versions before 2.8.6 and between 3.0.0 and 3.3.1. The vulnerability arises because degit improperly sanitizes user input when constructing git shell commands executed via the exec() method in the _cloneWithGit() and fetchRefs() functions.

An attacker can supply a specially crafted git repository name that includes shell metacharacters, allowing them to execute arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the process user. This happens because the input validation only blocks forward slashes and whitespace but allows other shell metacharacters, and exec() invokes a shell that evaluates these characters.

The root causes include insufficient input validation by the parse() function, unsafe use of exec() instead of safer alternatives like execFile(), and unsanitized user input in fetchRefs().

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected system with the same privileges as the degit process user.

• Remote code execution can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or system compromise.
• It can be exploited over the network without requiring special privileges, though some user interaction may be needed.
• Common exploitation scenarios include injection attacks in CI/CD pipelines, web-based project scaffolding tools, or developer machines using malicious packages.
• Successful exploitation can disrupt development workflows, compromise sensitive data, or allow attackers to pivot within a network.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring for unusual or suspicious execution of shell commands originating from degit processes, especially those involving git repository names that contain shell metacharacters or command substitution syntax.

Since the vulnerability involves command injection via the exec() method, one way to detect exploitation attempts is to look for degit commands or processes invoking shell commands with unexpected arguments.

Suggested commands to detect potential exploitation attempts include:

• Using process monitoring tools (e.g., ps, top) to identify degit processes running with suspicious parameters.
• Using auditd or similar Linux auditing tools to log execve system calls from degit binaries.
• Searching shell history or logs for degit commands containing shell metacharacters such as `$()`, `${}`, or other suspicious patterns.
• Example command to find degit processes: `ps aux | grep degit`
• Example command to search for suspicious patterns in logs: `grep -E '\$\(|\$\{|;|&&' /var/log/*`

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Mitigation Strategies

The primary and immediate mitigation step is to upgrade the degit package to a fixed version.

• Upgrade degit to version 2.8.6 or later if using the 2.x series.
• If using the 3.x series, upgrade to version 3.3.1 or later.

These versions include fixes that properly sanitize user input and replace unsafe exec() calls with safer alternatives, preventing command injection.

Additionally, avoid using degit with untrusted input, especially in automated environments like CI/CD pipelines or scaffolding tools.

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Compliance Impact

The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands by supplying a specially crafted git repository name. This can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system compromise.

Such unauthorized command execution and potential data exposure can negatively impact compliance with common standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require protection of sensitive data and secure system operations.

Specifically, exploitation in environments such as CI/CD pipelines or developer machines could lead to leakage or manipulation of personal or protected health information, violating confidentiality and integrity requirements mandated by these regulations.

Mitigation by upgrading to fixed versions reduces the risk and helps maintain compliance by preventing exploitation.

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