Arbitrary Code Execution in Gemini CLI via Symlinked Environment Variables (CVE-2026-12537) | HOL Guard CVE

Critical · CVSS 10.0CVE-2026-12537GHSA-WPQR-6V78-JR5G

Arbitrary Code Execution in Gemini CLI via Symlinked Environment Variables

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-12537 records a Critical severity (CVSS 10.0) vulnerability in Arbitrary Code Execution in Gemini CLI via Symlinked Environment Variables. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Google Cloud/Gemini CLI (generic), Google Cloud/run-gemini-cli GitHub Action (generic), google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli (github actions), @google/gemini-cli (npm) and additional mapped packages. Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 10, 2026Updated Sep 12, 2026Source checked Sep 12, 2026First seen by HOL Jun 24, 2026Material review Sep 12, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Critical · CVSS 10.0
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 5 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 10.0. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Google Cloud/Gemini CLI (generic), Google Cloud/run-gemini-cli GitHub Action (generic), google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli (github actions), @google/gemini-cli (npm) and additional mapped packages. Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Google Cloud/Gemini CLIgeneric	>=0 <0.39.1	0.39.1
Google Cloud/run-gemini-cli GitHub Actiongeneric	>=0 <0.1.22	0.1.22
google-github-actions/run-gemini-cligithub actions	>=0 <0.1.22	0.1.22
@google/gemini-clinpm	>=0 <0.39.1	0.39.1
@google/gemini-clinpm	>=0.40.0-preview.2 <0.40.0-preview.3	0.40.0-preview.3

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Google Cloud/Gemini CLI, Google Cloud/run-gemini-cli GitHub Action, google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli.
Review the reported fix. Update Google Cloud/Gemini CLI to 0.39.1; Google Cloud/run-gemini-cli GitHub Action to 0.1.22; google-github-actions/run-gemini-cli to 0.1.22; @google/gemini-cli to 0.39.1; @google/gemini-cli to 0.40.0-preview.3 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 12, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Jun 24, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

A vulnerability in the Gemini CLI and associated GitHub Action allowed an unprivileged attacker to achieve an arbitrary code execution in Gemini CLI via untrusted local .env files overriding GEMINI_CLI_HOME.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.