CVE-2021-32638
4.4 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2021-32638 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting github codeql_action. It was published on May 25, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4 (MEDIUM).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
Github's CodeQL action is provided to run CodeQL-based code scanning on non-GitHub CI/CD systems and requires a GitHub access token to connect to a GitHub repository. The runner and its documentation previously suggested passing the GitHub token as a command-line parameter to the process instead of reading it from a file, standard input, or an environment variable. This approach made the token visible to other processes on the same machine, for example in the output of the `ps` command. If the CI system publicly exposes the output of `ps`, for example by logging the output, then the GitHub access token can be exposed beyond the scope intended. Users of the CodeQL runner on 3rd-party systems, who are passing a GitHub token via the `--github-auth` flag, are affected. This applies to both GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise users. Users of the CodeQL Action on GitHub Actions are not affected. The `--github-auth` flag is now considered insecure and deprecated. The undocumented `--external-rep
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from github. Update codeql_action to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| github | codeql_action | >= 0, < 20210304 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-32638?
CVE-2021-32638 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting github codeql_action. It was published on May 25, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2021-32638?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-32638?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from github. Update codeql_action to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-32638?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-32638 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
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