Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-8099 is a libgit2 flaw where a malicious repository index file can trigger a double free and crash software using the library. The known impact is denial of service, not data theft or remote code execution in the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted service-stability risk. Prioritize remediation where customer-controlled repositories are processed, especially in externally reachable automation or scanning workflows. Lower priority for isolated systems using only trusted repositories.
Technical view
In libgit2 before v0.26.2, index.c read_entry() returned an incorrect error code, leading to a double free when processing a crafted repository index file. Upstream references include a fixing commit and libgit2 security page; Debian later shipped a libgit2 security update.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in applications, services, or automation that use vulnerable libgit2 versions and process repositories or index files from untrusted or external sources. Internal-only use with trusted repositories lowers practical risk.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes a crafted index file causing denial of service. It does not cite public active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data.
Researcher notes
The public record lacks CVSS, CWE, and detailed affected CPE metadata. Analysis should center on version confirmation, trust boundaries around repository inputs, and whether libgit2 is embedded beyond package-manager visibility.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade libgit2 to v0.26.2 or later where possible.
- Apply vendor or distribution security updates for packaged libgit2.
- Identify applications that statically bundle libgit2 and update them separately.
- Limit processing of untrusted repositories until vulnerable libgit2 versions are removed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory deployed libgit2 versions, including embedded or statically linked copies.
- Check whether repository-processing services accept user-supplied repositories or index files.
- Verify Debian or other vendor package changelogs include the CVE fix.
- Confirm updated builds no longer use libgit2 versions before v0.26.2.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2018-8099 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://libgit2.github.com/security/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/libgit2/libgit2/commit/58a6fe94cb851f71214dbefac3f9bffee437d6feCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- [debian-lts-announce] 20220321 [SECURITY] [DLA 2936-1] libgit2 security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.