# CVE-2026-88885: Renovate command injection in gomod manager via unescaped depName

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-88885-renovate-command-injection-in-gomod-manager-via-unescaped-depname  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-10. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-88885 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-09-10

Renovate is a popular dependency update automation tool used by development teams to keep their software libraries and frameworks current. A command injection vulnerability in Renovate's Go module manager allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on systems running Renovate in Docker mode when processing Go modules with malicious package names during import path updates. This could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to the Renovate server and any code repositories it manages.

Technologies: [Mend Renovate-Ce](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/renovate-ce), [Mend Renovate-Ee-Server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/renovate-ee-server), [Mend Renovate-Ee-Worker](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/renovate-ee-worker). Vendors: [Mend](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mend).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-88885 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-88885 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-88885?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 10 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Mend Renovate-Ce before 15.4.0; Mend Renovate-Ee-Server before 15.4.0; Mend Renovate-Ee-Worker before 15.4.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-88885?** A patch was published on 2026-09-10: Patches released: Renovate 44.14.7, Renovate CE/EE 15.4.0, Renovate EE-Enterprise 10.4.0 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-88885 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-88885?** Check whether you run Mend Renovate-Ce, Mend Renovate-Ee-Server or Mend Renovate-Ee-Worker 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.

## Technical details

This is an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) in Renovate's gomod manager that occurs when processing Go module import path updates. The vulnerable code fails to properly escape or sanitize the depName parameter when constructing shell commands for the external `mod` utility during Go module major version updates. The attack requires several preconditions: the Renovate instance must be running in binarySource=docker mode (now deprecated), have gomodUpdateImportPaths enabled in postUpdateOptions, and encounter a Go dependency with a malicious package name. An attacker with the ability to commit code to the repository's default branch (or control a malicious Go module proxy) can inject shell metacharacters into the dependency name to achieve arbitrary command execution as the Renovate user. The vulnerability is patched in Renovate version 44.14.7 and corresponding releases of the CE/EE variants (15.4.0 and later).

## Affected products

- Renovate Renovate before 44.14.7
- Mend Renovate CE before 15.4.0
- Mend Renovate EE Server before 15.4.0
- Mend Renovate EE Worker before 15.4.0

## Timeline

- 2026-08-27: disclosed: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-mpf8-qxrw-gq3w) published
- 2026-09-10: advisory: CVE-2026-88885 published on NVD
- 2026-09-10: patched: Patches released: Renovate 44.14.7, Renovate CE/EE 15.4.0, Renovate EE-Enterprise 10.4.0

## References

- [https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate/security/advisories/GHSA-mpf8-qxrw-gq3w](https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate/security/advisories/GHSA-mpf8-qxrw-gq3w)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/renovate-before-44.14.7-command-injection-via-depname](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/renovate-before-44.14.7-command-injection-via-depname)

## Related threats

- [Renovate server-side request forgery in HTTP presets](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110868-renovate-before-44-79-0-contains-a-server-side-request-forgery)
- [Renovate environment variable allowlist bypass in shared presets](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110867-renovate-before-44-60-1-contains-an-allowlist-bypass)
- [Renovate protection mechanism bypass in minimumReleaseAge checks](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110866-renovate-before-44-61-3-contains-a-protection-mechanism-bypass)
- [Renovate HTTP header allowlist bypass in shared presets](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110865-renovate-before-44-60-1-contains-an-allowlist-bypass)
- [Renovate command injection in Maven Wrapper manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-88889-renovate-command-injection-in-maven-wrapper-manager)
