CWE-527: Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere

Extended Description

Version control repositories such as CVS or git store version-specific metadata and other details within subdirectories. If these subdirectories are stored on a web server or added to an archive, then these could be used by an attacker. This information may include usernames, filenames, path root, IP addresses, and detailed "diff" data about how files have been changed - which could reveal source code snippets that were never intended to be made public.

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Verify controls for CWE-527 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-527, Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere, throughout the product lifecycle. Derive review questions, static or dynamic checks, and negative tests from the CWE's causal behavior; define the components and lifecycle stages each check covers; and retain findings with enough evidence to distinguish the root cause from symptoms and impacts. Track escapes and false negatives, then improve the verification plan after every confirmed occurrence.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework — National Institute of Standards and Technology

Address Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere during Operation

MITRE associates mitigation with Operation, Distribution, and System Configuration; recorded impacts include Read Application Data, and Read Files or Directories; related weaknesses include CWE-552. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-527 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-527: Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-527 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-527, Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere, has evidence of exploitation in the wild. Confirm the CVE-to-CWE root-cause mapping independently before attaching the example, then capture the affected product, required action, and remediation deadline. A missing KEV match is not evidence that the weakness is unexploited, and a KEV entry must not be generalized to every occurrence of this CWE.

Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-527

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-527, Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere. Separate weakness language from attacker prerequisites and technical impact, check the entry's abstraction and vulnerability-mapping notes, and prefer the most specific Base or Variant supported by the evidence. Record the rejected alternatives and require an independent review before the mapping is used for remediation trends or program metrics.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Guidance — MITRE CWE

Validate CWE-527 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-527, Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere. Confirm the finding describes the causal weakness rather than an impact or attack pattern, compare the abstraction and mapping notes with plausible alternatives, and have a second reviewer challenge the selection. Preserve the evidence and reasoning so recurring defects can be measured against one consistent identifier.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Quick Tips — MITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-527: Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere?+

CWE-527: Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product stores a CVS, git, or other repository in a directory, archive, or other resource that is stored, transferred, or otherwise made accessible to unauthorized actors. Version control repositories such as CVS or git store version-specific metadata and other details within subdirectories. If these subdirectories are stored on a web server or added to an archive, then these could be used by an attacker. This information may include usernames, filenames, path root, IP addresses, and detailed "diff" data about how files have been changed - which could reveal source code snippets that were never intended to be made public.

What are the security consequences of Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere?+

If exploited, CWE-527 (Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere) it can compromise Confidentiality, leading to outcomes such as Read Application Data and Read Files or Directories.

How do you prevent or mitigate Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-527 include: Recommendations include removing any CVS directories and repositories from the production server, disabling the use of remote CVS repositories, and ensuring that the latest CVS patches and version updates have been performed.

Which programming languages are affected by Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere?+

CWE-527 commonly affects Not Language-Specific. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.

What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-527 describes a category of software weakness — the underlying flaw type. A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) identifies a specific, real-world vulnerability in a particular product. In short, a CWE is the kind of mistake, and a CVE is an instance of that mistake being found in software.

CWE-527: Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere

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