CVE-2023-30853: Gradle/gradle build action Data Written To GitHub Actions Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2023-30853 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.6) data written to github actions vulnerability (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) affecting Gradle/gradle build action libraries in the GitHub Actions ecosystem. The issue involves data written to github actions cache may expose secrets. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.4.2.
CVE-2023-30853 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.6
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2023-30853
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Gradle/gradle build action dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade gradle/gradle-build-action to 2.4.2
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for gradle/gradle-build-action
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-30853, inspect your project dependencies for Gradle/gradle build action:
inspect dependencies for gradle/gradle-build-action
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gradle/gradle build action in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.4.2), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, where the product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere. In Gradle/gradle build action, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2023-30853 Affected Gradle/gradle build action Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
gradle/gradle-build-action
|
GitHub Actions |
< 2.4.2
|
2.4.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-30853?
Which Gradle/gradle build action versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-30853?
Is gradle/gradle-build-action affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-30853?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-30853?
How can I check GitHub Actions dependencies for CVE-2023-30853?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-h3qr-39j9-4r5v",
"modified" : "2023-05-01T13:42:44Z",
"published" : "2023-05-01T13:42:44Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-30853" ],
"summary" : "Data written to GitHub Actions Cache may expose secrets",
"details" : "### Impact\n\nThis vulnerability impacts GitHub workflows using the [Gradle Build Action](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/gradle-build-action) that have executed the Gradle Build Tool with the [configuration cache](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/configuration_cache.html) enabled, potentially exposing secrets configured for the repository.\n\nSecrets configured for GitHub Actions are normally passed to the Gradle Build Tool via environment variables. Due to the way that the Gradle Build Tool records these environment variables, they may be persisted into an entry in the GitHub Actions cache. This data stored in the GitHub Actions cache can be read by a GitHub Actions workflow running in an untrusted context, such as that running for a Pull Request submitted by a developer via a repository fork.\n\nThis vulnerability was discovered internally through code review, and we have not seen any evidence of it being exploited in the wild. However, in addition to upgrading the Gradle Build Action, you should delete any potentially vulnerable cache entries and may choose to rotate any potentially affected secrets ([see Remediation](#Remediation)).\n\n### Patches\n\n[Gradle Build Action v2.4.2](https://github.com/gradle/gradle-build-action/releases/tag/v2.4.2) (and newer) no longer save this sensitive data for later use, preventing ongoing leakage of secrets via the GitHub Actions Cache. We strongly recommend that all users of the Gradle Build Action upgrade to `v2.4.2` (or simply `v2`) immediately.\n\n### Remediation\n\nWhile upgrading to the latest version of the Gradle Build Action will prevent leakage of secrets going forward, additional actions may be required due to current or previous GitHub Actions Cache entries containing this information.\n\nCurrent cache entries will remain vulnerable until they are forcibly deleted or they expire naturally after 7 days of not being used. Potentially vulnerable entries can be easily identified in the GitHub UI by searching for a cache entry with key matching `configuration-cache-*`. We recommend that users of the Gradle Build Action inspect their list of cache entries and [manually delete any that match this pattern](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/caching-dependencies-to-speed-up-workflows#deleting-cache-entries).\n\nWhile we have not seen any evidence of this vulnerability being exploited, we recommend cycling any repository secrets if you cannot be certain that these have not been compromised. Compromise could occur if you run a GitHub Actions workflow for a pull request attempting to exploit this data. \nWarning signs to look for in a pull request include:\n- Making changes to GitHub Actions workflow files in a way that may attempt to read/extract data from the Gradle User Home or <project-root>/.gradle directories.\n- Making changes to Gradle build files or other executable files that may be invoked by a GitHub Actions workflow, in a way that may attempt to read/extract information from these locations.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nWe strongly recommend that all users upgrade to the latest version of the Gradle Build Action as soon as possible, and delete any potentially vulnerable cache entries from the GitHub Actions cache ([see Remediation](#Remediation)). \n\nIf for some reason this is not possible, users can limit the impact of this vulnerability:\n- If the Gradle project does not opt-in to using the configuration cache, then it is not vulnerable. \n- If the Gradle project does opt-in to using the configuration-cache by default, then the `--no-configuration-cache` command-line argument can be used to disable this feature in a GitHub Actions workflow.\n\nIn any case, we recommend that users carefully inspect any pull request before approving the execution of GitHub Actions workflows. It may be prudent to require approval for all PRs from external contributors, as described [here](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/enabling-features-for-your-repository/managing-github-actions-settings-for-a-repository#controlling-changes-from-forks-to-workflows-in-public-repositories).",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "GitHub Actions",
"name" : "gradle/gradle-build-action"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.4.2"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/gradle/gradle-build-action/security/advisories/GHSA-h3qr-39j9-4r5v"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-30853"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/gradle/gradle-build-action"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/gradle/gradle-build-action/releases/tag/v2.4.2"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200", "CWE-312" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-05-01T13:42:44Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-28T16:15:10Z"
}
}