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TI-2023-28576 Aliases CVE-2023-52137GHSA-ghm2-rq8q-wrhc

GitHub Action tj-actions/verify-changed-files is vulnerable to command injection in output filenames

Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-20Published · 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 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77.

Summary

The [`tj-actions/verify-changed-files`](https://github.com/tj-actions/verify-changed-files) action allows for command injection in changed filenames, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code and potentially leak secrets. The [`verify-changed-files`](https://github.com/tj-actions/verify-changed-files) workflow returns the list of files changed within a workflow execution. This could potentially allow filenames that contain special characters such as `;` which can be used by an attacker to take over the [GitHub Runner](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-github-hosted-runners/about-github-hosted-runners) if the output value is used in a raw fashion (thus being directly replaced before execution) inside a `run` block. By running custom commands, an attacker may be able to steal secrets such as `GITHUB_TOKEN` if triggered on other events than `pull_request`. This has been patched in versions [17](https://github.com/tj-actions/verify-changed-files/releases/tag/v17) and [17.0.0](https://github.com/tj-actions/verify-changed-files/releases/tag/v17.0.0) by enabling `safe_output` by default and returning filename paths escaping special characters for bash environments.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02621 85th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed verify-changed-files (tj-actions): 17.0.0tj-actions/verify-changed-files (GitHub Actions): 17

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
tj-actionsverify-changed-filesbefore 17.0.017.0.0Patch availableCNA
—tj-actions/verify-changed-files (GitHub Actions)before 1717Patch availableGHSA-ghm2-rq8q-wrhc
  • verify-changed-files Vendortj-actions Affected before 17.0.0 Fixed in 17.0.0 Patch available CNA
  • tj-actions/verify-changed-files (GitHub Actions) Vendor— Affected before 17 Fixed in 17 Patch available GHSA-ghm2-rq8q-wrhc

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:tj-actions:verify-changed-files:*:*:*:*:*:github:*:*before 17.0.0Vulnerabletj-actions
  • cpe:2.3:a:tj-actions:verify-changed-files:*:*:*:*:*:github:*:* Versions before 17.0.0 Vulnerable ·tj-actions

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA verify-changed-files (tj-actions) Fixed in 17.0.0
  • Fix · GHSA-ghm2-rq8q-wrhc tj-actions/verify-changed-files (GitHub Actions) Fixed in 17 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-52137
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ghm2-rq8q-wrhc

References

Sources