CVE-2026-71963
Received Received - Intake

Remote Code Execution in Hermes Agent

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-71963, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-09-03

Last updated on: 2026-09-03

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description

Hermes Agent 0.18.2 through 0.21.0, fixed in commit f6234d0, contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands by supplying a malicious repository with a crafted .git/config that sets core.fsmonitor to an attacker-controlled command. When a user opens the malicious repository and sends any message, the agent triggers a git status index refresh which executes the injected command in the user's process context, exposing the full environment including configured provider API keys.

CVSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-03
Last Modified
2026-09-03
Generated
2026-09-03
AI Q&A
2026-09-03
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
nousresearch hermes_agent From 0.18.2 (inc) to 0.21.0 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-78 The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

Hermes Agent versions 0.18.2 to 0.21.0 have a remote code execution flaw where attackers can inject malicious commands via a crafted .git/config file in a repository. The core.fsmonitor setting is set to an attacker-controlled command. When a user opens the repository and sends a message, Hermes triggers a git status refresh, executing the injected command in the user's process context, exposing sensitive data like API keys.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, check Hermes Agent versions between 0.18.2 and 0.21.0. Run: hermes-agent --version. If vulnerable, inspect repositories for malicious .git/config files containing core.fsmonitor settings pointing to attacker-controlled commands. Use git config --list --show-origin to review Git configurations in repositories.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands on your system with your privileges. It can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or further network infiltration. Attackers can deliver malicious repositories via shared files, sync folders, or USB sticks, enabling silent execution without user interaction.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating GDPR and HIPAA requirements for data protection and confidentiality. Exposure of API keys or other credentials may result in breaches of compliance standards, leading to legal penalties and reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update Hermes Agent to the latest version beyond 0.21.0, specifically commit f6234d0 or later. Avoid opening untrusted repositories, especially those with .git directories. Disable automatic Git operations in AI coding agents if possible. Monitor for suspicious activity in environment variables or API key exposure.

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0/70

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