security: GitHub Actions shell injection in .github/workflows/_build.yml #247

Summary

.github/workflows/_build.yml has multiple run: steps that interpolate ${{ github.* }} context data directly into shell scripts. This is the classic GitHub Actions shell injection pattern (CWE-78, OWASP A03).

Found via static scan (semgrep yaml.github-actions.security.run-shell-injection).

Findings

Lines with ${{ github.* }} context interpolation in run: steps:

• .github/workflows/_build.yml:55
• .github/workflows/_build.yml:68
• .github/workflows/_build.yml:111
• .github/workflows/_build.yml:123
• .github/workflows/_build.yml:162

(Plus any I missed — these are the top 5 from the semgrep output.)

Why this matters

Fields like github.event.pull_request.title, github.event.issue.title, github.head_ref, and github.event.comment.body can be attacker-controlled via crafted PR titles, branch names, or comments. When they get interpolated directly into a run: script, the attacker's input becomes shell code.

Reference: https://securitylab.github.com/research/github-actions-untrusted-input/

Impact: code execution on the runner, which typically has access to GITHUB_TOKEN, release signing keys, PyPI publishing credentials, etc.

Remediation pattern

Replace direct interpolation with an intermediate env var:

# Vulnerable:
run: |
  echo "Processing ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}"

# Safe:
env:
  PR_TITLE: ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}
run: |
  echo "Processing $PR_TITLE"

The env: block treats the value as a plain string; referencing $PR_TITLE in the script goes through normal shell variable expansion which is not vulnerable to injection.

Notes

• A previous scan of this repo (~April 12) flagged similar findings in .github/workflows/ci.yml. The current findings are in _build.yml which appears to be a newer workflow file — same pattern, different file.
• GitHub's own hardening guide recommends this pattern for any run: step that references github.* context: https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/security-hardening-for-github-actions#understanding-the-risk-of-script-injections

Environment

• Scan date: 2026-04-13
• Tool: semgrep (default ruleset, rule: yaml.github-actions.security.run-shell-injection)
• Repo state: HEAD of main as of scan time