CVE-2023-49291Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Command execution via interpolated branch name

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Code injection in tj-actions Branch Names before 7.0.7 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted pull request branch name. The action.yml run step expands github.event.pull_request.head.ref or github.head_ref directly into Bash source instead of passing it through an environment variable. A repository workflow must invoke the action on attacker-controlled pull request data; successful exploitation can expose secrets or misuse token permissions.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability1.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Code injection in tj-actions Branch Names before 7.0.7 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted pull request branch name. The action.yml run step expands github.event.pull_request.head.ref or github.head_ref directly into Bash source instead of passing it through an environment variable. A repository workflow must invoke the action on attacker-controlled pull request data; successful exploitation can expose secrets or misuse token permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49291
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
tj-actions
Product
Branch Names
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 7.0.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

tj-actions · Branch Namesversion=< 7.0.7

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo