ghsa-6q4m-7476-932w

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "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"
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "GitHub Actions",
        "name": "rlespinasse/github-slug-action"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "4.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "4.4.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-27581"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2023-03-13T20:43:33Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-03-13T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "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> 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> 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.",
  "id": "GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w",
  "modified": "2026-09-10T03:49:52.759231755Z",
  "published": "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"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.9.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "github-slug-action vulnerable to arbitrary code execution"
}