Configuration Management / Exposure of .git directory

Description

The exposure of a .git directory, which is commonly used by version control systems like Git, represents a significant security vulnerability. The .git directory contains sensitive information about the versioned code, including the entire history of changes, configuration files, and potentially credentials.

Risk

  • Source Code Exposure: Exposure of source code can lead to intellectual property theft, unauthorized code modifications, and the potential identification of vulnerabilities.
  • Credentials and Configuration Exposure: Unauthorized access to credentials and configuration files can lead to account compromise, unauthorized access, or misuse of services.
  • Security Misconfigurations: Misconfigurations can lead to security weaknesses, making it easier for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the application or infrastructure.

Solution

  • Prevent Directory Listing: Disable directory listing on web servers to prevent the automatic exposure of the .git directory contents.
  • Gitignore Configuration: Ensure that sensitive files and directories, including the .git directory, are included in the project's .gitignore file. This prevents them from being inadvertently committed to the repository.
  • Web Server Configuration: Configure web servers to deny access to the .git directory and its contents. This can be achieved by using server configuration files (e.g., Apache's .htaccess or Nginx configuration).
  • Regular Audits and Scans: Conduct regular security audits and scans of the codebase to identify any unintentional exposure of sensitive directories, including .git. Automated tools can help in detecting and fixing such issues.
  • Access Control: Implement strict access controls on the repository, ensuring that only authorized individuals have read or write access to the .git directory and its contents.
  • Remove Sensitive Information: Avoid committing sensitive files, such as configuration files with credentials, directly into the repository. Instead, use environment variables or configuration files that are excluded from version control.

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