---
title: "CVE-2008-5916\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5916?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2008-5916

Publication date 21 January 2009

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

gitweb/gitweb.perl in gitweb in Git 1.6.x before 1.6.0.6, 1.5.6.x before
1.5.6.6, 1.5.5.x before 1.5.5.6, 1.5.4.x before 1.5.4.7, and other versions
after 1.4.3 allows local repository owners to execute arbitrary commands by
modifying the diff.external configuration variable and executing a crafted
gitweb query.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5916?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| git-core | 8.10 intrepid | Fixed 1:1.5.6.3-1.1ubuntu2.1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Fixed 1:1.5.4.3-1ubuntu2.1 |
| 7.10 gutsy | Not affected |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5916?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

diff.external variable only available since 1.5.4
http://repo.or.cz/w/git.git?a=commitdiff;h=cbe02100
http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=122977048914639&w=2
So, doesn't affect dapper and gutsy

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| git-core | * Upstream:   <http://repo.or.cz/w/git.git?a=commit;h=dfff4b7aa42de7e7d58caeebe2c6128449f09b76> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-5916)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5916)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2008-5916)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-5916)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-723-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-723-1)
+ Git vulnerabilities
+ 18 February 2009

### Other references

* <http://repo.or.cz/w/git.git?a=blob_plain;f=Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.0.6.txt;hb=718258e256b74622aa55f5ee0cb9cff4cce6bf9f>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5916>