# CVE-2021-30483: isomorphic-git directory traversal via malicious file paths

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-30483-isomorphic-git-directory-traversal-via-malicious-file-paths  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-09-02. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-30483 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-09-02

isomorphic-git is a JavaScript library that allows developers to work with Git repositories in the browser and Node.js environments. A directory traversal vulnerability allows attackers to write files outside the intended repository directory by crafting a malicious Git repository with specially crafted file paths. This could lead to unauthorized file creation or modification on the system running the application.

Technologies: [isomorphic-git (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/isomorphic-git). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-30483 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-30483 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-30483?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 2 September 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** isomorphic-git (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.8.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-30483?** Yes. isomorphic-git (npm): upgrade to 1.8.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-30483 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-30483?** Check whether you run isomorphic-git (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- isomorphic-git (npm): upgrade to 1.8.2 or later

  ```sh
  npm install isomorphic-git@1.8.2
  ```


## Technical details

isomorphic-git before version 1.8.2 is vulnerable to directory traversal (CWE-22) through malicious file paths embedded in a Git repository structure. The vulnerability occurs in the checkout functionality when parsing Git trees without sufficient validation of file paths, allowing use of path traversal sequences (e.g., "../"). An attacker can craft a malicious repository that, when checked out by a victim application, writes files to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. The fix, merged in PR #1339, introduces an UnsafeFilepathError that is thrown when detecting malicious paths during Git tree parsing. The vulnerability requires the victim to clone or checkout a malicious repository but does not require authentication or user interaction beyond the checkout operation itself.

## Affected products

- isomorphic-git isomorphic-git before 1.8.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2021-30483
- GHSA-fgxq-p49f-qw99

## Timeline

- 2021-07-30: disclosed
- 2021-09-02: advisory
- 2021-04-12: patched: PR #1339 merged with fix

## References

- [https://github.com/isomorphic-git/isomorphic-git/pull/1339](https://github.com/isomorphic-git/isomorphic-git/pull/1339)

## Related threats

- [isomorphic-git path traversal in tree parser](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63478-isomorphic-git-is-a-pure-javascript-implementation-of-git-for)
- [isomorphic-git circular symref denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63475-isomorphic-git-is-a-pure-javascript-implementation-of-git-for)
- [isomorphic-git symlink path traversal in checkout](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63395-isomorphic-git-is-a-pure-javascript-implementation-of-git-for)