git-upload-pack

git upload-pack <repository-path>

<repository-path>
    The path to the Git repository to serve. This can be a relative or absolute path.

The git-upload-pack command is a Git server-side helper program used to send objects to a client that requests them.
It's typically invoked by git fetch-pack or git push.
git-upload-pack reads a list of object names from standard input, representing the objects the client wants. It then packs those objects, along with any other objects necessary to complete the transfer, into a single packfile.
This packfile is then sent to the client via standard output. This process efficiently transfers only the necessary data, minimizing bandwidth usage. It verifies the object ownership, and can refuse to serve objects not owned by the repository being served. Security is a primary concern, so it carefully validates the requested objects to prevent malicious requests from accessing arbitrary files on the server. It is primarily designed for server-side operation.

This command is typically not run directly by users. It is designed to be invoked by Git clients as part of fetch or push operations. Incorrectly configuring or running this command directly could expose the repository to security vulnerabilities.

The command carefully validates the objects requested to prevent directory traversal and other malicious attacks. Ensure proper access control and permissions are configured on the repository to prevent unauthorized access.

git-upload-pack has been a core component of Git since its early development. It was designed to facilitate efficient and secure transfer of Git objects between repositories, enabling distributed version control. Its security model and performance characteristics have been continuously improved over time to adapt to evolving threats and network conditions.

git fetch-pack(1), git receive-pack(1), git pack-objects(1)