CVE-2024-52006

What it actually does

The flaw bypasses Git credential helper protocol protections against CVE-2020-5260 by allowing single carriage return characters to be interpreted as newlines in .NET and Node.js ecosystems, enabling credential leakage during protocol exchanges.

Why it matters to the business

Organizations relying on Git for source control risk exposure of repository credentials when interacting with untrusted or malicious sources, potentially leading to unauthorized code access, supply chain compromise, and increased operational overhead for incident response.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a malicious repository URL embedding carriage returns that exploit ecosystem-specific newline handling; when a victim performs a clone (especially recursive) using a vulnerable credential helper, the malformed protocol causes credentials to be transmitted to an attacker-controlled endpoint.

How to fix it

Upgrade Git to one of the fixed releases (v2.48.1, v2.47.1, v2.46.3, v2.45.3, v2.44.3, v2.43.6, v2.42.4, v2.41.3, or v2.40.4). If unable to upgrade, avoid cloning from untrusted URLs.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify installed Git version matches a listed fixed release; test credential helper behavior with crafted URLs containing carriage returns in a controlled environment to confirm protection restoration.

Typical attack path

1. Identify or host a malicious Git repository URL containing embedded carriage returns
2. Social engineer or trick a target into cloning from the URL (particularly recursive clones)
3. Vulnerable credential helper in .NET or Node.js processes the line-based protocol
4. Credentials are leaked to the attacker-controlled server

How to detect it

Review Git client logs, credential helper traces, and network traffic for anomalous repository URLs or unexpected credential transmissions; correlate with any mentions of carriage return handling or link-following patterns associated with the Git Link Following Vulnerability threat actor.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize immediate upgrade of all Git installations to a patched version
• Restrict or monitor cloning operations from external or untrusted URLs
• Update developer guidelines to emphasize risks of recursive clones from unknown sources