Google Patches CVSS 10.0 RCE in Gemini CLI Headless Mode
Google has patched a maximum-severity remote code execution flaw in Gemini CLI that affected headless deployments, especially GitHub Actions and other CI/CD workflows. The vulnerability stemmed from overly permissive workspace trust handling that automatically treated active folders as trusted and could load attacker-controlled configuration files and environment variables from local .gemini directories. The issue was independently discovered by Elad Meged of Novee and Dan Lisichkin of Pillar Security, and researchers warned that successful exploitation could expose secrets, credentials, source code, and connected downstream systems.
Google said the issue is addressed in Gemini CLI versions 0.39.1 and 0.40.0-preview.3, but warned that applying the fix may require additional workflow changes to avoid breaking automation. The run-gemini-cli GitHub Action defaults to the latest release, which can disrupt pipelines that depended on the previous implicit trust behavior, while workflows using --yolo mode may fail silently unless tool allowlists are updated to align with the new policy engine. Google is urging organizations to review CI/CD jobs and move to explicit trust settings and compatible allowlists before resuming automated use.
How this story unfolded
4 events from the earliest known activity through the most recent confirmed update.
Pillar Security privately reports Gemini CLI issue to Google
Pillar Security reported the vulnerability to Google in the google/draco repository, beginning the coordinated disclosure process. The report described how Gemini CLI running in automated '--yolo' workflows could be abused via prompt injection to access local GitHub credentials and enable repository compromise.
Researchers independently discover Gemini CLI headless-mode RCE flaw
Elad Meged of Novee and Dan Lisichkin of Pillar Security independently identified a maximum-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Gemini CLI. The issue involved headless mode automatically trusting workspace folders and loading attacker-controlled configuration and environment data from local .gemini directories.
Google releases fixes in Gemini CLI 0.39.1 and 0.40.0-preview.3
Google addressed the vulnerability in Gemini CLI versions 0.39.1 and 0.40.0-preview.3. The fix changed trust handling and policy behavior for headless mode, especially affecting CI/CD and GitHub Actions use cases.
Google warns patched Gemini CLI may still require workflow changes
Google said organizations using Gemini CLI via GitHub Actions or in headless CI/CD environments may need to take additional steps after patching to avoid breaking automated pipelines. It specifically warned that run-gemini-cli defaults to the latest release and that workflows using --yolo mode may fail unless tool allowlists are updated for the new policy engine behavior.
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Google Fixes CVSS 10 Gemini CLI Vulnerability Enabling GitHub Issue-Based RCE
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Open sourceGoogle: Addressing max severity Gemini CLI bug may require further action | brief | SC Media
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Open sourceGoogle fixes CVSS 10.0 vulnerability in Gemini CLI
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