CVE-2025-24362 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting GitHub CodeQL Action, discovered on January 24, 2025. This vulnerability allows debug artifacts uploaded after a failed code scanning workflow run to contain environment variables from the workflow run, potentially exposing sensitive information such as GitHub tokens. Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to repositories due to the exposure of these tokens.
The vulnerability is particularly concerning because the exposed tokens can grant access to the repository and its contents for up to 24 hours after the job completes. As a result, any user with read access to the repository could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
This vulnerability is patched in CodeQL Action version 3.28.3 or later, or CodeQL CLI version 2.20.3 or later. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Given the implications of this vulnerability, it is critical for organizations using GitHub CodeQL Action to review their configurations and ensure they are using an updated version to mitigate any potential risks.
Vulnerability Details
In some circumstances, debug artifacts uploaded by the CodeQL Action after a failed code scanning workflow run may contain the environment variables from the workflow run, including any secrets that were exposed as environment variables to the workflow. Users with read access to the repository would be able to access this artifact, containing any secrets from the environment. This vulnerability is patched in CodeQL Action version 3.28.3 or later, or CodeQL CLI version 2.20.3 or later.
The vulnerability is classified as CWE-532: Exposure of Sensitive Information Through Log Files. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.1, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is network-based, and it requires low privileges to exploit.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the logging of environment variables during the execution of the CodeQL Action. Specifically, it occurs when debug artifacts are enabled and a code scanning workflow fails before the CodeQL database is finalized. The environment variables, including potentially sensitive tokens, are logged and may be included in the debug artifacts.
The attack vector is network-based, and the attack complexity is low. No user interaction is required, and the confidentiality impact is high as sensitive tokens can be exposed. The integrity and availability impacts are minimal.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing GitHub CodeQL Action are at significant risk if they do not address this vulnerability. The exposure of tokens, particularly the GITHUB_TOKEN, can lead to unauthorized access to repositories, potentially resulting in data breaches or unauthorized changes to code.
The blast radius of this vulnerability is substantial, especially for organizations with multiple repositories or critical data stored on GitHub. Organizations should assess their workflows and update their configurations to mitigate this risk.
The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is high, and organizations should prioritize remediation efforts as soon as possible. Failure to do so could expose them to significant security risks.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability impacts CodeQL Action versions 3.28.2 and earlier, as well as CodeQL CLI versions 2.20.2 and earlier. Organizations should update to CodeQL Action version 3.28.3 or later, or CodeQL CLI version 2.20.3 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must prioritize patching by upgrading to CodeQL Action version 3.28.3 or later, or CodeQL CLI version 2.20.3 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, disabling debug artifacts can provide a temporary workaround.
For further assistance, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing services to identify additional vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor their CodeQL Action logs for any instances of debug artifacts being uploaded, especially during failed workflow runs. Logging should be configured to capture any unexpected behavior or anomalies that may indicate exposure of sensitive information.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability highlights the importance of securing development workflows and understanding the risks associated with exposed environment variables. Organizations must adopt best practices in secret management to minimize the impact of similar vulnerabilities.
Security teams should stay informed about trends in vulnerability disclosures and consider establishing a vulnerability management program to proactively address security issues.
In addition, organizations may benefit from penetration testing methodology to ensure their systems are resilient against exploitation.
Finally, organizations should continuously review and update their security practices in response to emerging threats, ensuring their defenses remain robust.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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