CVE-2026-10174 Overview
CVE-2026-10174 affects Aider-AI Aider version 0.86.3, an AI-assisted coding assistant. The vulnerability resides in an unspecified function within aider/args.py, part of the Pre-commit Hook Handler component. Manipulation of the git-commit-verify argument leads to a protection mechanism failure [CWE-693]. The flaw is remotely reachable and a public exploit description exists. According to VulDB, the project was notified through an issue report but has not yet responded.
Critical Impact
An attacker with low privileges can bypass the pre-commit verification protection by manipulating the git-commit-verify argument, weakening the integrity controls that pre-commit hooks normally enforce.
Affected Products
- Aider-AI Aider 0.86.3
- Component: Pre-commit Hook Handler (aider/args.py)
- Affected argument: git-commit-verify
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-31 - CVE-2026-10174 published to NVD
- 2026-06-01 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-10174
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-693] Protection Mechanism Failure. Aider's command-line argument handling in aider/args.py processes the git-commit-verify flag that governs whether Git pre-commit hooks are honored when Aider creates commits on behalf of the user. Manipulating this argument allows an attacker to disable or sidestep the pre-commit verification path. Pre-commit hooks frequently enforce secret scanning, linting, signing, and policy checks; bypassing them removes a layer of supply-chain defense around AI-generated code commits.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper handling of the git-commit-verify argument in the Pre-commit Hook Handler logic inside aider/args.py. The argument parser does not enforce the expected protective behavior, allowing the verification step to be skipped when it should be mandatory. The maintainers have not yet acknowledged or remediated the issue per the public VulDB record and the linked GitHub Aider Issue #5057.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-reachable and requires low privileges with no user interaction. An attacker who can influence Aider invocation parameters — for example, through a malicious project configuration, repository file, or environment that Aider consumes — can set git-commit-verify to a value that disables hook enforcement. The resulting commits proceed without the integrity checks the developer expects. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are each rated low, consistent with a control-bypass rather than direct code execution. See the VulDB advisory for CVE-2026-10174 for additional context.
No verified exploit code is published. The vulnerability mechanism is described in the referenced VulDB and GitHub issue records.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-10174
Indicators of Compromise
- Aider CLI invocations or configuration files that explicitly disable git-commit-verify or set it to a non-default value.
- Git commits authored by Aider that bypass expected pre-commit hooks (for example, missing signing metadata, lint records, or secret-scan logs).
- Unexpected commits in repositories where pre-commit policy enforcement is mandatory.
Detection Strategies
- Audit shell history, CI logs, and Aider configuration files (.aider.conf.yml) for occurrences of the git-commit-verify argument.
- Compare commit volume against pre-commit hook execution logs to identify commits that skipped verification.
- Apply server-side Git hooks or branch protection rules to validate that required checks ran before each push.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward developer endpoint command-line telemetry and Git server audit logs into a central data lake for correlation against Aider activity.
- Alert on any commit reaching a protected branch without an associated successful pre-commit hook record.
- Track installed Aider versions across developer workstations and flag the affected 0.86.3 release.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-10174
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory developer workstations and CI runners for Aider version 0.86.3 and restrict its use until a patched release is available.
- Enforce pre-commit verification server-side using Git hooks or platform-level required status checks, so client-side bypass is not sufficient to land changes.
- Remove or block the git-commit-verify flag in shared Aider configuration files and CI pipelines.
Patch Information
No vendor patch is available at the time of publication. The project has been notified via GitHub Aider Issue #5057 but has not yet responded per the VulDB record. Monitor the Aider GitHub repository for an updated release that restores correct enforcement of the git-commit-verify argument.
Workarounds
- Override git-commit-verify handling by wrapping Aider invocations in a script that strips the argument before execution.
- Make pre-commit checks authoritative on the Git server (for example, GitHub branch protection or GitLab push rules) rather than relying on client-side hooks.
- Restrict Aider usage to repositories where AI-generated commits are reviewed by a human before merge.
- Require signed commits and signed tags so unverified Aider commits are rejected by downstream policy.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
