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Dulwich: Symlink write-through in checkout(paths=[]) via raw os.open bypasses all symlink protections

GitHub Advisories · officialPublished Oct 2, 2026Risk 37/100

## Summary Dulwich's `porcelain.checkout(paths=[...])` code path writes files using raw `os.open(file_path, O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC, mode)` followed by `f.write(obj.data)`. This code path does NOT call `build_file_from_blob()` at all, completely bypassing any symlink protections (including the unreleased d09f8af fix). `os.open` without `O_NOFOLLOW` follows symlinks at both the target file and intermediate directories, allowing arbitrary file writes. ## Root Cause At `dulwich/porcelain/__init__.py:5661-5675`, the `checkout(paths=[...])` implementation: ```python file_path = _checked_worktree_path(r, path) os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(file_path), exist_ok=True) flags = os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT | os.O_TRUNC with os.fdopen(os.open(file_path, flags, mode), "wb") as f: f.write(obj.data) ``` `_checked_worktree_path()` (line 601-631) only performs name validation — checking that the path doesn't start with `/` or `\\` and that components pass `INVALID_DOTNAMES` checks. It performs zero filesystem symlink detection. ## Impact An attacker can craft a malicious repository that, when a victim clones it and runs `checkout(paths=[...])`, writes attacker-controlled content (with attacker-controlled permissions) to any filesystem location accessible to the user. Writing to `.git/hooks/post-checkout` achieves RCE on the next git checkout. ## Attack Scenario 1. Attacker creates a repository where HEAD has `trigger` as a symlink (mode 120000, content `../../.git/hooks/post-checkout`), and tag `v1.0` has `trigger` as an executable file (mode 100755, content `#!/bin/sh\nmalicious_payload`) 2. Victim clones the repository — worktree has `trigger` → `../../.git/hooks/post-checkout` (a symlink) 3. Victim runs `porcelain.checkout(repo, target="v1.0", paths=["trigger"])` to restore a specific file from a tag 4. `_checked_worktree_path(r, "trigger")` passes — name validation only, no symlink check 5. `os.open("trigger", O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC, 0o755)` follows the symlink → opens `.git/hooks/post-checkout` for writing 6. `f.write(obj.data)` writes the malicious payload to the hook 7. Next checkout operation triggers the hook → RCE ## Suggested Fix Replace the raw `os.open` path with a call to `build_file_from_blob` (once that function is hardened against intermediate symlinks), or add explicit symlink detection: resolve the path with `os.path.realpath()` and verify it stays within the worktree root before opening. Reported by **zx (Jace)**

Upgrade affected packages to a patched version: dulwich 1.2.8.

Vendor
Not specified
Product
dulwich
Exploitation
none known
Evidence
official
CVSS
8.6

This record is attributed to GitHub Advisories. Exploitation status and remediation guidance are kept separate from the vulnerability's technical severity.

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