CVE-2026-48719: Warp Branch Selector Command Injection Vulnerability

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in Warp versions 0.2025.08.06.08.12.stable_00 through 0.2026.05.06.15.42.stable_01 and stems from insufficient sanitization of Git branch names in the prompt branch selector. When a user selects a branch via the UI, the branch name is passed to the shell without proper escaping or validation, allowing arbitrary command execution. The attack vector is network-based (N), requires low attack complexity (L), necessitates logon privileges (PR:L), and depends on user interaction (UI:R). The impact is confined to the affected system (S:U) but grants high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H). This is classified as CWE-78 (Operating System Command Injection).

Business impact

Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of a developer's workstation, including theft of source code, credentials, SSH keys, and other sensitive data stored locally. In team environments, a single malicious branch pushed to a shared repository could compromise multiple developers. This is particularly concerning for organizations where developers use Warp as their primary development environment and work with repositories accessible to both internal and external collaborators. The integrity of development workflows and code authenticity may be compromised.

Affected systems

Warp versions from 0.2025.08.06.08.12.stable_00 through 0.2026.05.06.15.42.stable_01 are affected. The fixed version is 0.2026.05.06.15.42.stable_01 or later. Organizations using Warp for development should verify their installed version against the Warp release notes and vendor advisory.

Exploitability

Exploitability requires two conditions: the attacker must have push access to a Git repository (or collaborator trust), and the victim must manually select the malicious branch from Warp's UI. This is not a remote unauthenticated attack; it depends on repository access and user interaction. However, in open-source projects or repositories with broad collaborator access, an attacker could introduce the malicious branch with minimal friction. Once triggered, command execution occurs with the victim's shell privileges, making the impact severe.

Remediation

Update Warp to version 0.2026.05.06.15.42.stable_01 or later. Verify the update through Warp's settings or release channels. No workarounds are available; patching is the primary mitigation. Organizations should also review Git repository access controls to limit who can push branches, and consider security awareness training on the risks of selecting branches from untrusted sources.

Patch guidance

Apply the Warp update to version 0.2026.05.06.15.42.stable_01 or later. Users can check their current version in Warp's About or Settings menu. Most users should receive the update automatically if auto-update is enabled; manual installation may be required otherwise. Verify the update is successful by checking the version number matches the patched release. Test branch selection functionality to ensure normal operation after patching.

Detection guidance

Monitor for unusual shell command execution originating from Warp processes, particularly commands that differ from normal development workflows. Inspect Git push logs for branch names containing special characters, escape sequences, or suspicious payloads (e.g., $(…), `…`, ;, |, &). Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools should flag unexpected child processes spawned by Warp. Code review practices should scrutinize branch names in pull requests from external contributors for suspicious patterns.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability scores CVSS 8.0 (HIGH) and warrants immediate attention in environments where Warp is actively used for development. The combination of high impact (full system compromise), network accessibility, and relatively low barrier to exploitation (requires only push access and user interaction) makes it a significant risk. Organizations using Warp in collaborative or open-source contexts should prioritize patching. However, it does not affect users who have not yet updated to the vulnerable version range or those using older, pre-vulnerability releases.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.0 reflects high severity: the attack requires network access and low complexity, but depends on authenticated push privileges and user interaction. The impact is severe across all three dimensions (confidentiality, integrity, availability), warranting a HIGH rating. The score does not account for organizational factors such as repository access policies or Warp adoption rates; security teams should contextualize this score against their own environment.

Frequently asked questions