{"id":"GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w","summary":"github-slug-action vulnerable to arbitrary code execution","details":"### Impact\n\nThis action uses the `github.head_ref` parameter in an insecure way. \n\nThis vulnerability can be triggered by any user on GitHub on any workflow using the action on pull requests. They just need to create a pull request with a branch name, which can contain the attack payload. (Note that first-time PR requests will not be run - but the attacker can submit a valid PR before submitting an invalid PR).  This can be used to execute code on the GitHub runners (potentially use it for crypto-mining, and waste your resources) and to exfiltrate any secrets you use in the CI pipeline.\n\n### Patches\n\n\u003e Pass the variable as an environment variable and then use the environment variable instead of substituting it directly.\n\nPatched action is available on tag **v4**, tag **v4.4.1**, and any tag beyond.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nNo workaround is available if impacted, please upgrade the version\n\n\u003e ℹ️ **v3** and **v4** are compatibles.\n\n### References\n\n[Here](https://securitylab.github.com/research/github-actions-untrusted-input/) is a set of blog posts by Github's security team explaining this issue.\n\n### Thanks\n\nThanks to the team of researchers from Purdue University, who are working on finding vulnerabilities in CI/CD configurations of open-source software. Their tool detected this security vulnerability.","aliases":["CVE-2023-27581"],"modified":"2026-09-10T03:49:52.759231755Z","published":"2023-03-13T20:43:33Z","database_specific":{"nvd_published_at":"2023-03-13T21:15:00Z","cwe_ids":["CWE-77"],"severity":"HIGH","github_reviewed":true,"github_reviewed_at":"2023-03-13T20:43:33Z"},"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/rlespinasse/github-slug-action/security/advisories/GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27581"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/rlespinasse/github-slug-action/commit/102b1a064a9b145e56556e22b18b19c624538d94"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/rlespinasse/github-slug-action"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/rlespinasse/github-slug-action/releases/tag/v4.4.1"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://securitylab.github.com/research/github-actions-untrusted-input"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"rlespinasse/github-slug-action","ecosystem":"GitHub Actions"},"ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"4.0.0"},{"fixed":"4.4.1"}]}],"database_specific":{"source":"https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2023/03/GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w/GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w.json"}}],"schema_version":"1.9.0","severity":[{"type":"CVSS_V3","score":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"}]}