CVE-2021-32638

Token disclosure via visible command-line argument

Published May 25, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Sensitive-information exposure in GitHub CodeQL runner before codeql-bundle-20210304 allows local users to read GitHub access tokens. The runner accepts a token through --github-auth as a process argument, leaving the secret visible in the operating system's process list. Exposure requires third-party CI/CD to use that flag and a local process or published process output to inspect the argument; GitHub Actions users are not affected.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sensitive-information exposure in GitHub CodeQL runner before codeql-bundle-20210304 allows local users to read GitHub access tokens. The runner accepts a token through --github-auth as a process argument, leaving the secret visible in the operating system's process list. Exposure requires third-party CI/CD to use that flag and a local process or published process output to inspect the argument; GitHub Actions users are not affected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32638
Published
May 25, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Twitter
Product
CodeQL Action
Classifications
CWE-200, CWE-214, T1552
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 25, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< codeql-bundle-20210304

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Twitter · CodeQL Actionversion=< codeql-bundle-20210304

Published CVSS scores

4.4GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-214Invocation of Process Using Visible Sensitive Information
T1552Unsecured Credentials

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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