CVE-2021-22864 Unsafe configuration options in GitHub Pages leading to remote code execution on GitHub Enterprise Server

High 8.8 Published 23 Mar 2021 Updated 3 Aug 2024

Attacker with Pages build permissions can override environment variables to execute arbitrary code on the server.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2021-22864?

CVE-2021-22864 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Github Enterprise Server, published on 23 Mar 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A remote code execution vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that could be exploited when building a GitHub Pages site. User-controlled configuration options used by GitHub Pages were not sufficiently restricted and made it possible to override environment variables leading to code execution on the GitHub Enterprise Server instance. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need permission to create and build a GitHub Pages site on the GitHub Enterprise Server instance. This vulnerability affected all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server prior to 3.0.3 and was fixed in 3.0.3, 2.22.9, and 2.21.17. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.

Weakness: CWE-77

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22864?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Github Enterprise Server.

How do I fix CVE-2021-22864?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22864 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.

Is CVE-2021-22864 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22864 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Github Enterprise Server vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-mj25-3c4g-wx5r.