# fatal: Path '<submodule-path>' does not point to a valid commit: <hash>

- **ID:** `git/submodule-commit-not-found`
- **Domain:** git
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 82%

## Root Cause

A submodule reference points to a commit hash that does not exist in the submodule's repository, often due to force-pushing or rebasing in the submodule without updating the parent.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| git 2.40.1 | active | — | — |
| git 2.41.0 | active | — | — |
| git 2.42.2 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Update the submodule reference to a valid commit: 'cd <submodule-path> && git fetch origin && git checkout <valid-hash>', then commit the change in the parent repo** (85% success)
   ```
   Update the submodule reference to a valid commit: 'cd <submodule-path> && git fetch origin && git checkout <valid-hash>', then commit the change in the parent repo
   ```
2. **If the missing commit is from a force-push, ask the submodule maintainer to restore it, or update the parent to point to a different commit using 'git submodule set-url' and 'git add'** (78% success)
   ```
   If the missing commit is from a force-push, ask the submodule maintainer to restore it, or update the parent to point to a different commit using 'git submodule set-url' and 'git add'
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — This updates to the latest remote commit, not the missing hash; it changes the submodule version and may break compatibility with the parent project. (60% fail)
- **** — Re-adding the submodule requires the same commit hash; if the hash is missing from the remote, the error persists. (50% fail)