Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Windows installer risk, not a normal Git repository bug. Before Git for Windows 2.37.1, a fresh install could mistakenly run an untrusted git.exe placed in a Windows path. Successful abuse could give the attacker code execution during installation. Upgrades are not described as affected.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority where developer workstations, CI hosts, or shared Windows systems allowed fresh Git for Windows installs before 2.37.1. The fix path is straightforward: update installers and harden root-drive permissions.
Technical view
CVE-2022-31012 is a CWE-426 untrusted search path issue in Git for Windows installers before 2.37.1. The installer could execute a binary at C:\mingw64\bin\git.exe during a fresh install. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.2 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints or build machines where Git for Windows before 2.37.1 was freshly installed and authenticated users could create folders under C:\. Routine upgrades are specifically stated as not affected.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Abuse requires local authenticated access and user interaction with a fresh Git for Windows installation, but impact is high if the installer runs the untrusted binary.
Researcher notes
The strongest exposure condition is the combination of a vulnerable fresh installer and permissive C:\ folder creation. Sources name two workarounds and a fixed release. They do not provide evidence of active exploitation or broadened affected products beyond Git for Windows.
Mitigation direction
- Install Git for Windows 2.37.1 or later.
- Use only current trusted Git for Windows installers.
- Create C:\mingw64 and remove read/write access as documented.
- Disallow arbitrary authenticated users from creating folders in C:\.
- Check vendor guidance for any newer installation hardening advice.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Git for Windows versions on Windows systems.
- Identify endpoints using Git for Windows older than 2.37.1.
- Confirm whether affected systems received fresh installs, not only upgrades.
- Review C:\ permissions for authenticated-user folder creation.
- Check for unexpected C:\mingw64\bin\git.exe presence.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-426: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-31012 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.56Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/security/advisories/GHSA-gjrj-fxvp-hjj2CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/releases/tag/v2.37.1.windows.1CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.
Untrusted Search Path
Untrusted Search Path represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.