CVE-2025-23040

MEDIUM

GitHub Desktop < 3.4.12 - Credential Leak via Malicious Remote URL

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2025-23040. PoCs published by GabrieleDattile.

AI-analyzed exploit summary The repository contains a README describing CVE-2025-23040, a credential leak vulnerability in GitHub Desktop versions prior to 3.4.12. The vulnerability allows attackers to exfiltrate user credentials via malicious remote URLs when a user clones a manipulated repository.

Description

GitHub Desktop is an open-source Electron-based GitHub app designed for git development. An attacker convincing a user to clone a repository directly or through a submodule can allow the attacker access to the user's credentials through the use of maliciously crafted remote URL. GitHub Desktop relies on Git to perform all network related operations (such as cloning, fetching, and pushing). When a user attempts to clone a repository GitHub Desktop will invoke `git clone` and when Git encounters a remote which requires authentication it will request the credentials for that remote host from GitHub Desktop using the git-credential protocol. Using a maliciously crafted URL it's possible to cause the credential request coming from Git to be misinterpreted by Github Desktop such that it will send credentials for a different host than the host that Git is currently communicating with thereby allowing for secret exfiltration. GitHub username and OAuth token, or credentials for other Git remote hosts stored in GitHub Desktop could be improperly transmitted to an unrelated host. Users should update to GitHub Desktop 3.4.12 or greater which fixes this vulnerability. Users who suspect they may be affected should revoke any relevant credentials.

Exploits (1)

nomisec WRITEUP
by GabrieleDattile · poc
https://github.com/GabrieleDattile/CVE-2025-23040

The repository contains a README describing CVE-2025-23040, a credential leak vulnerability in GitHub Desktop versions prior to 3.4.12. The vulnerability allows attackers to exfiltrate user credentials via malicious remote URLs when a user clones a manipulated repository.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: GitHub Desktop < 3.4.12
No auth needed
Prerequisites: User interaction to clone a malicious repository
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3

Scores

CVSS v3 6.6
EPSS 0.0074
EPSS Percentile 49.6%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-522
Status published
Products (1)
desktop/desktop < 3.4.12
Published Jan 15, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026