ghtier
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ApplicationAugust 2024

ArtiPACKED artifact token leakage

actions/checkout persists the GitHub token into .git/config by default; uploading the whole checkout directory as an artifact exposes it. Researchers observed leakage of both GITHUB_TOKEN and the undocumented ACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN, which lives about six hours and can be used to swap an artifact for a malicious version. The token-theft path is a race condition: download the artifact mid-run and create a branch before expiry. It requires the workflow to hold contents: write.

Permissions abused

GITHUB_TOKEN persisted in .git/configACTIONS_RUNTIME_TOKEN (~6h lifetime)

On the permission reference

Reported by: Unit42

Frameworks

Ongoing. First seen August 2024. Mapping by ghtier, not yet reviewed. Threat landscape