CVE-2008-2942: Mercurial Directory Traversal Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2008-2942: Mercurial Directory traversal vulnerability. Affects mercurial versions < 1.0.2. Fixed in 1.0.2. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- mercurial · Debian:11
The same CVE-2008-2942 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Mercurial is a distributed version control system that allows developers to manage changes to source code over time. It is known for its efficiency and scalability, making it a popular choice for both small and large projects. However, prior to version 1.0.2, Mercurial contained a directory traversal vulnerability in its patch.py file, which could be exploited by attackers to manipulate files outside the intended directory structure.
Vulnerability Detail
The directory traversal vulnerability in Mercurial arises from improper handling of file paths in patch files. Attackers can craft malicious patch files that include '..' (dot dot) sequences, allowing them to navigate the directory structure and modify arbitrary files on the system. This could lead to unauthorized access, data corruption, or system compromise, especially if the affected system has elevated privileges.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 7.2.4 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "mercurial==7.2.4"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
1.0.2
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "mercurial==1.0.2"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid processing untrusted patch files that may contain malicious content. Always verify the source of patch files before applying them to your Mercurial repositories.
Conclusion
The directory traversal vulnerability in Mercurial (CVE-2008-2942) poses a significant risk to users of versions prior to 1.0.2. It is crucial to update to the latest version to mitigate this risk. Additionally, users should be cautious when handling patch files from untrusted sources.
See every vulnerability recorded for mercurial →
FAQ
A directory traversal vulnerability allows an attacker to access files and directories that are stored outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to unauthorized file access or modification.
If you are using a version of Mercurial prior to 1.0.2, your installation is vulnerable to this issue. You can check your version by running 'hg --version' in your terminal.
Failing to fix this vulnerability can expose your system to unauthorized access, data corruption, or exploitation by malicious actors, especially if sensitive files are accessible.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your application for open-source vulnerabilities, including this one, using just your Pipfile.lock. You can check your application's status in real-time without any installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
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