Exposure of Version-Control Repository to an Unauthorized Control Sphere in projen
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
`projen` is a project generation tool that synthesizes project configuration files such as `package.json`, `tsconfig.json`, `.gitignore`, GitHub Workflows, `eslint`, `jest`, and more, from a well-typed definition written in JavaScript. Users of projen's `NodeProject` project type (including any project type derived from it) include a `.github/workflows/rebuild-bot.yml` workflow that may allow any GitHub user to trigger execution of un-trusted code in the context of the "main" repository (as opposed to that of a fork). In some situations, such untrusted code may potentially be able to commit to the "main" repository. The rebuild-bot workflow is triggered by comments including `@projen rebuild` on pull-request to trigger a re-build of the projen project, and updating the pull request with the updated files. This workflow is triggered by an `issue_comment` event, and thus always executes with a `GITHUB_TOKEN` belonging to the repository into which the pull-request is made (this is in contrast with workflows triggered by `pull_request` events, which always execute with a `GITHUB_TOKEN` belonging to the repository from which the pull-request is made). Repositories that do not have branch protection configured on their default branch (typically `main` or `master`) could possibly allow an untrusted user to gain access to secrets configured on the repository (such as NPM tokens, etc). Branch protection prohibits this escalation, as the managed `GITHUB_TOKEN` would not be able to modify the contents of a protected branch and affected workflows must be defined on the default branch.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| projen | projen | 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 | 0.16.41 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | projen (npm) | 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 | 0.16.41 | Patch available | GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq |
| — | projen (PyPI) | before 0.16.41 | 0.16.41 | Patch available | GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq |
- projen Vendorprojen Affected 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 Fixed in 0.16.41 Patch available CNA
- projen (npm) Vendor— Affected 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 Fixed in 0.16.41 Patch available GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq
- projen (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 0.16.41 Fixed in 0.16.41 Patch available GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:projen_project:projen:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 | Vulnerable | Projen Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:projen_project:projen:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 0.6.0 to before 0.16.41 Vulnerable ·Projen Project
Remediation
- Fix · CNA projen (projen) Fixed in 0.16.41
- Fix · GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq projen (npm) Fixed in 0.16.41 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq projen (PyPI) Fixed in 0.16.41 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21423
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq
References
Advisory 3
Sources
- CVE-2021-21423 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-21423 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gg2g-m5wc-vccq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences