CVE-2026-24739: Symfony Process Component Argument Escaping Flaw Leading to Potential Destructive File Operations
Summary
CVE-2026-24739: The Symfony Process component did not correctly treat some characters (notably =) as “special” when escaping arguments on Windows. Affects symfony/process across 5 version ranges.
< 5.4.51
>= 6.4, < 6.4.33
>= 7.3, < 7.3.11
>= 7.4, < 7.4.5
>= 8.0, < 8.0.5
Fixed in 5 releases; the minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Symfony Process component is a part of the Symfony framework, which is widely used for building web applications in PHP. It provides a simple and elegant way to execute commands in the operating system, manage processes, and handle input/output streams. This component is crucial for applications that rely on executing system commands or managing files. However, a vulnerability has been identified that affects how the component escapes arguments when running in MSYS2 or Git Bash environments on Windows, potentially leading to severe unintended consequences.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the Symfony Process component's failure to correctly escape certain characters, particularly the '=' character, when executing commands in a Windows environment via MSYS2 or Git Bash. This mismanagement can lead to corrupted or truncated arguments being passed to native Windows executables. Consequently, if an application uses Symfony Process to execute file management commands with paths containing '=', it may inadvertently perform operations on unintended paths, including the deletion of files or directories. This issue is especially critical when untrusted input can influence the arguments passed to the process.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
< 5.4.515.4.51composer require symfony/process:5.4.51 -
>= 6.4, < 6.4.336.4.33composer require symfony/process:6.4.33 -
>= 7.3, < 7.3.117.3.11composer require symfony/process:7.3.11 -
>= 7.4, < 7.4.57.4.5composer require symfony/process:7.4.5 -
>= 8.0, < 8.0.58.0.5composer require symfony/process:8.0.5
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid running PHP or your tooling from MSYS2-based shells on Windows. Instead, use cmd.exe or PowerShell for workflows that involve spawning native executables. Additionally, refrain from passing paths that contain '=' or similar characters to Symfony Process when operating under Git Bash or MSYS2.
Conclusion
The Symfony Process component vulnerability (CVE-2026-24739) poses a significant risk to applications running in MSYS2 or Git Bash on Windows. By failing to properly escape certain characters, it can lead to destructive file operations. It is crucial to upgrade to the patched versions of the component or implement the recommended workarounds to safeguard your application.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can lead to unintended file operations, including the deletion of files or directories, especially when untrusted input is involved.
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Versions of Symfony Process prior to 5.4.51, 6.4.33, 7.3.11, 7.4.5, and 8.0.5 are affected by this vulnerability.
Yes, the CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.3, indicating a moderate severity level.
If an immediate upgrade is not possible, implement the suggested workarounds to mitigate the risk until you can apply the patch.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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