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TI-2023-12291 Aliases CVE-2023-27581GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w

github-slug-action vulnerable to arbitrary code execution

Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-77Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77.

Summary

github-slug-action is a GitHub Action to expose slug value of GitHub environment variables inside of one's GitHub workflow. Starting in version 4.0.0` and prior to version 4.4.1, this action uses the `github.head_ref` parameter in an insecure way. This vulnerability can be triggered by any user on GitHub on any workflow using the action on pull requests. They just need to create a pull request with a branch name, which can contain the attack payload. This can be used to execute code on the GitHub runners and to exfiltrate any secrets one uses in the CI pipeline. A patched action is available in version 4.4.1. No workaround is available.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01576 75th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed github-slug-action (rlespinasse): 4.4.1rlespinasse/github-slug-action (GitHub Actions): 4.4.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
rlespinassegithub-slug-action4.0.0 to before 4.4.14.4.1Patch availableCNA
—rlespinasse/github-slug-action (GitHub Actions)4.0.0 to before 4.4.14.4.1Patch availableGHSA-6q4m-7476-932w
  • github-slug-action Vendorrlespinasse Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.4.1 Fixed in 4.4.1 Patch available CNA
  • rlespinasse/github-slug-action (GitHub Actions) Vendor— Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.4.1 Fixed in 4.4.1 Patch available GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:github-slug-action_project:github-slug-action:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.0.0 to before 4.4.1VulnerableGithub-slug-action Project
  • cpe:2.3:a:github-slug-action_project:github-slug-action:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0.0 to before 4.4.1 Vulnerable ·Github-slug-action Project

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA github-slug-action (rlespinasse) Fixed in 4.4.1
  • Fix · GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w rlespinasse/github-slug-action (GitHub Actions) Fixed in 4.4.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-27581
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6q4m-7476-932w

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 2

Other 3

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences