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GitHub Actions workflows are essential in automating various tasks within software development pipelines. However, as with any tool that runs code, security vulnerabilities can surface if not properly managed. To enhance the security of GitHub Actions workflows, GitHub has recently launched expanded analysis capabilities with the release of CodeQL 2.20.5. These updates bring additional security checks and adjustments that significantly improve the detection of security risks within GitHub Actions files.
With the new release, five new queries have been added to identify potential vulnerabilities, while some existing queries have been adjusted for better accuracy. This article will explore these changes in detail, showcasing the improvements made to enhance the security of GitHub Actions workflows.
Key Updates in CodeQL 2.20.5 for GitHub Actions Workflow Security
With the launch of CodeQL 2.20.5, GitHub now offers more comprehensive analysis capabilities for GitHub Actions workflow files. The new release expands the scope of security checks and introduces five new queries designed to detect additional security risks. Below are the highlights of the changes introduced:
1. actions/envpath-injection/medium
This query detects instances where user-controlled sources, like GitHub issue text, populate the PATH environment variable. This can allow attackers to influence the execution of system commands, posing a significant security threat.
2. actions/envvar-injection/medium
This query identifies cases where environment variables are not adequately sanitized. It detects the injection of unwanted variables, particularly those introduced through new lines or delimiters.
3. actions/code-injection/medium
This query identifies situations where user-controlled inputs could lead to malicious code being executed, causing secrets to be exposed or repositories to be compromised.
4. actions/artifact-poisoning/medium
Detects issues where artifacts are improperly handled, extracted, or verified, which could allow a poisoned artifact to be executed, leading to severe security vulnerabilities.
5. actions/untrusted-checkout/medium
This query flags workflows triggered by untrusted events like pull_request_target or issue_comment, where arbitrary code execution from untrusted sources can occur when an explicit checkout follows.
Additionally, the actions/unpinned-tag query, due to its large number of false positives, has been moved to the security-extended query suite from the default suite. If the security-extended suite is not used, all alerts generated by this query will be automatically closed.
The update also removes three queries from the default and security-extended suites. These queries were found to generate irrelevant security alerts and have now been deprecated:
– actions/if-expression-always-true/critical
– actions/if-expression-always-true/high
– actions/unnecessary-use-of-advanced-config
These changes will be implemented automatically for users on GitHub.com, while users of GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES) version 3.17 will also receive these enhancements. If your GHES version is older, you can manually upgrade to the latest CodeQL version.
What Undercode Says:
GitHub Actions has increasingly become a critical part of modern software development workflows. However, with the rise of automation, there is an ever-present need for vigilance against security risks. The CodeQL 2.20.5 release signifies an important step toward addressing these concerns by adding new layers of security to the GitHub Actions environment.
The new queries introduced in this update enhance the platform’s ability to identify vulnerabilities stemming from improper handling of environment variables, untrusted sources, and user-controlled input. These issues are fundamental to the integrity of workflows, as they can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, compromise sensitive information, or even lead to full repository exploitation.
For developers using GitHub Actions, the new features serve as both a safety net and a preventive measure, catching vulnerabilities that may otherwise slip through unnoticed. It’s clear that GitHub is listening to the community’s needs by making these proactive changes, and users should leverage these security features to ensure their workflows remain secure.
The movement of the actions/unpinned-tag query to the security-extended suite is an interesting decision. While this query helps detect potential issues with unpinned tags in workflows, its previous large number of false positives made it less reliable in the default suite. By placing it in the security-extended suite, GitHub ensures that users who opt for more granular security checks can benefit from it without overwhelming users with irrelevant alerts. This shows a thoughtful approach to query management and provides users with more precise and actionable security insights.
In addition to these improvements, the removal of three outdated queries that no longer generated valuable security alerts demonstrates GitHubās commitment to streamlining the platform. The reduction of false positives is essential to help security teams focus on actionable threats without getting bogged down in noise.
For enterprises using GitHub Enterprise Server, the upgrade to GHES version 3.17 will be crucial for maintaining up-to-date security standards. Itās important to note that GitHub takes a continuous approach to CodeQL updates, meaning that every new version of CodeQL automatically deploys to GitHub.com users, ensuring that security is always up to date. This proactive approach to security helps mitigate threats even before they are fully recognized by the broader community.
Fact Checker Results:
- New Queries: CodeQL 2.20.5 introduces five new security queries that detect additional security risks in GitHub Actions workflows.
- Query Updates: The actions/unpinned-tag query is now part of the security-extended suite due to its lower precision.
- Query Removals: Three queries have been removed for generating irrelevant alerts, streamlining the security scanning process.
References:
Reported By: https://github.blog/changelog/2025-02-28-java-csrf-go-1-24-and-c-13-language-features-support-available-in-codeql-2-20-5
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