CVE-2021-32724Network attack vector

Repository token disclosure via symlinked input files

Published Sep 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in check-spelling before 0.0.19 allows remote authenticated users to expose a GITHUB_TOKEN via a crafted pull request. The action follows attacker-controlled symlinks while reading configuration and word-list files without ensuring that resolved paths remain inside GITHUB_WORKSPACE. A repository must run the affected action on pull_request_target or schedule; the exposed token enables unapproved commits and subsequent repository-secret theft.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability2.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in check-spelling before 0.0.19 allows remote authenticated users to expose a GITHUB_TOKEN via a crafted pull request. The action follows attacker-controlled symlinks while reading configuration and word-list files without ensuring that resolved paths remain inside GITHUB_WORKSPACE. A repository must run the affected action on pull_request_target or schedule; the exposed token enables unapproved commits and subsequent repository-secret theft.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32724
Published
Sep 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Check Spelling
Product
check-spelling
Classifications
CWE-532, T1552
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 9, 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=< 0.0.19

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Check Spelling · check-spellingversion=< 0.0.19

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.9GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-532Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
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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