---
title: "WEB-APP-009 Git Repository Stored Inside a Web Root"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-APP-009.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-APP-009.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# WEB-APP-009 Git Repository Stored Inside a Web Root

Looks on disk for a .git folder directly inside each web document root.

- Domain: Web Apps
- Severity: Medium
- Control category: Information Exposure
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 3.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.AA-05, PR.DS-01
- CWE: CWE-527, CWE-538
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A05:2021
- OWASP ASVS 4.0.3: 12.5.1
- OWASP WSTG v4.2: WSTG-CONF-04
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: CM-7, SC-28

## Why It Matters

A .git folder in the document root is one web server rule away from being downloadable, which rebuilds the full source and its history, often with committed credentials. WEB-EXP-001 tests whether it is already reachable; this check finds it before a configuration change exposes it.

## How It Detects

Stats <docroot>/.git/HEAD for each local document root (metadata only). Fails when it exists, even if the web server currently blocks dot-folders.

## How to Fix

Deploy from a build step that copies only the needed files (git archive, rsync --exclude .git, or a CI artefact), or point the document root at a public/ sub-folder as Laravel, Symfony and Rails expect. Remove the .git folder from the web root and rotate any secret ever committed.

## How to Verify

```
ls -d <docroot>/.git  prints nothing.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [A6 Application Framework and CMS Configuration](https://openvapt.com/academy/a6.md)

## References

- [OWASP WSTG-CONF-04, Review Old Backup and Unreferenced Files](https://wstg.owasp.org/v4.2/4-Web_Application_Security_Testing/02-Configuration_and_Deployment_Management_Testing/04-Review_Old_Backup_and_Unreferenced_Files_for_Sensitive_Information/)
- [OWASP Secrets Management Cheat Sheet](https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Secrets_Management_Cheat_Sheet.html)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/web/frameworks.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only WEB-APP-009`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain WEB-APP-009`.

---

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