CVE-2023-49291 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article discusses the impact of CVE-2023-49291, which involves the improper sanitization of branch names leading to arbitrary code injection.

Understanding CVE-2023-49291

This CVE highlights a critical vulnerability in the

tj-actions/branch-names

GitHub action that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code by manipulating branch names.

What is CVE-2023-49291?

The

tj-actions/branch-names

GitHub Actions improperly references the

github.event.pull_request.head.ref

and

github.head_ref

context variables, enabling an attacker to execute code by crafting a malicious branch name. This could result in the theft of secrets or abuse of

GITHUB_TOKEN

permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-49291

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as critical with a CVSS base score of 9.3. It poses a high integrity impact and requires no special privileges for exploitation. Affected versions include those prior to 7.0.7.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-49291

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the

tj-actions/branch-names

action allows attackers to inject arbitrary code via specially crafted branch names, leading to potential data theft or misuse of permissions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Users of

tj-actions/branch-names

versions earlier than 7.0.7 are susceptible to this vulnerability. It is crucial to update to the patched version to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating branch names within the GitHub Actions

run

step, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious code and compromise the security of the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover steps to mitigate the impact of CVE-2023-49291 and prevent security breaches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to update

tj-actions/branch-names

to version 7.0.7 or later to address this vulnerability. Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporate secure coding practices, validate inputs, and limit access to sensitive resources to enhance overall system security and reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Continuously monitor for security advisories related to GitHub Actions and promptly apply patches as they become available to protect against emerging threats.