CVE-2026-44973: Path Traversal Vulnerabilities in github.com/go-git/go-billy
Summary
CVE-2026-44973: Go-billy has path traversal vulnerabilities in github.com/go-git/go-billy. Affects github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5 versions < 5.9.0. Fixed in 5.9.0. How to fix ↓
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Background
Go-billy is a library in the Go programming language that provides a filesystem abstraction, allowing developers to work with different types of filesystems in a uniform way. It is widely used for its ability to handle various file operations seamlessly. However, it has been found to have path traversal vulnerabilities that can be exploited, potentially leading to unauthorized file access.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in Go-billy arises from improper handling of file paths, which allows attackers to manipulate file paths and access files outside of the intended directory. This can lead to unauthorized reading or writing of sensitive files, posing a significant security risk to applications that rely on this library. The issue is particularly concerning in environments where file access permissions are not strictly enforced.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v5.9.2 as of 22 Oct 2026
go get github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5@v5.9.2Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
5.9.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
go get github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5@v5.9.0Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can implement additional checks in your application to validate file paths before accessing them. Ensure that any user-supplied paths are sanitized and do not contain sequences that could lead to directory traversal, such as '../'.
Conclusion
The path traversal vulnerabilities in Go-billy pose a significant risk to applications that utilize this library. It is crucial to update to the patched version 5.9.0 or later to safeguard against potential exploits. Additionally, implementing proper input validation can help mitigate risks until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5 →
FAQ
A path traversal vulnerability allows an attacker to access files and directories that are stored outside the intended directory. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
You can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your Gopkg.lock file, you can determine if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Failing to fix this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files, data breaches, and potential exploitation of your application by malicious actors.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup or installation.
If you cannot update the package immediately, implement strict input validation and sanitization for file paths to mitigate the risk of exploitation until you can apply the patch.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for github.com/go-git/go-billy/v5.
