CVE-2021-32638 : Security Advisory and Response

GitHub's CodeQL runner introduced changes due to vulnerabilities in command-line options that exposed GitHub access tokens to other processes, affecting users on 3rd-party systems.

Understanding CVE-2021-32638

This CVE addresses the deprecation of insecure command-line options that made GitHub access tokens visible to unintended processes.

What is CVE-2021-32638?

GitHub's CodeQL action had a security flaw where passing GitHub tokens via the

--github-auth

flag exposed tokens to other processes, risking unauthorized access.

The Impact of CVE-2021-32638

Users on non-GitHub CI/CD systems passing GitHub tokens via vulnerable flags risk exposing sensitive information to unauthorized actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-32638

This section provides insight into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allowed GitHub access tokens to be visible in the output of the

ps

command when passed as a command-line parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Users passing GitHub tokens via the

--github-auth

flag on third-party systems were vulnerable, excluding GitHub Actions users.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exposing tokens via insecure command-line parameters could lead to unauthorized access to GitHub repositories and sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address and prevent potential risks posed by this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Transition to secure token management practices like using the

--github-auth-stdin

flag or setting the

GITHUB_TOKEN

environment variable.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintain updated CodeQL runner versions, secure token storage, and minimize token exposure in CI logs.

Patching and Updates

Ensure your CodeQL runner is updated to a version from codeql-bundle-20210304 onwards to implement the necessary security patches.