CVE-2022-23739 in GitHub
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2023
An incorrect authorization vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server, allowing for escalation of privileges in GraphQL API requests from GitHub Apps. This vulnerability allowed an app installed on an organization to gain access to and modify most organization-level resources that are not tied to a repository regardless of granted permissions, such as users and organization-wide projects. Resources associated with repositories were not impacted, such as repository file content, repository-specific projects, issues, or pull requests. This vulnerability affected all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server prior to 3.7.1 and was fixed in versions 3.3.16, 3.4.11, 3.5.8, 3.6.4, 3.7.1. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23739 represents a critical authorization flaw within GitHub Enterprise Server's GraphQL API implementation that specifically affects GitHub Apps installed on organizations. This issue stems from improper access control validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the privileges of authenticated entities when processing GraphQL requests. The vulnerability exists at the authorization layer where the system incorrectly grants elevated permissions to installed GitHub Apps, allowing them to access organization-level resources beyond their intended scope. The flaw manifests when GitHub Apps attempt to query or modify organization-wide resources through GraphQL endpoints, bypassing the normal permission boundaries that should restrict access to only repository-associated data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the GraphQL API's permission checking logic, where the system does not adequately validate whether the requesting GitHub App has sufficient authorization to access specific organization-level resources. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation path that allows malicious or compromised apps to gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data and functionality. The vulnerability specifically targets resources that exist at the organization level rather than repository level, including user management capabilities, organization-wide projects, and other administrative functions that govern the entire organization's structure and access policies. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization mechanisms where insufficient checks are performed during access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing GitHub Enterprise Server, as it creates potential for unauthorized access to critical organizational resources that could lead to data breaches, privilege abuse, and operational disruption. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to modify user permissions, access confidential organization information, manipulate organization-wide projects, and potentially escalate their access to other system components. The fact that this vulnerability affected all versions prior to 3.7.1 means that organizations running older versions were exposed to this risk for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to organization-level resources. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access, as it could enable attackers to modify organizational policies and access controls, creating long-term security implications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the fixed versions 3.3.16, 3.4.11, 3.5.8, 3.6.4, or 3.7.1 as recommended by GitHub, and conducting thorough audits of installed GitHub Apps to identify any potentially compromised or malicious applications. Security teams should also review existing access controls and permissions granted to GitHub Apps, ensuring that only necessary privileges are provided and that proper least-privilege principles are enforced. The vulnerability's discovery through the GitHub Bug Bounty program highlights the importance of coordinated disclosure and responsible vulnerability reporting in maintaining secure software ecosystems, while also demonstrating how security researchers can identify and remediate critical authorization flaws that affect widely-used enterprise platforms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential stuffing, as it enables unauthorized access through legitimate application interfaces that should have been properly restricted.