CVE-2024-7711 Overview
An Incorrect Authorization vulnerability (CWE-863) was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allows an attacker to update the title, assignees, and labels of any issue inside a public repository. This authorization bypass vulnerability enables unauthorized modification of issue metadata without proper access controls, potentially leading to confusion, misdirection of development efforts, and manipulation of project tracking systems.
Critical Impact
Attackers with low-level privileges can manipulate issue metadata in public repositories, potentially disrupting project management workflows, misdirecting assignees, and altering issue categorization through label modifications.
Affected Products
- GitHub Enterprise Server versions before 3.14
- GitHub Enterprise Server versions 3.11.x (prior to 3.11.14)
- GitHub Enterprise Server versions 3.12.x (prior to 3.12.8)
- GitHub Enterprise Server versions 3.13.x (prior to 3.13.3)
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-20 - CVE-2024-7711 published to NVD
- 2024-09-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7711
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from an Incorrect Authorization flaw (CWE-863) in GitHub Enterprise Server's issue management functionality. The vulnerability allows authenticated users to bypass authorization checks and modify issue properties (title, assignees, and labels) on public repositories where they would not normally have write access. The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, meaning any authenticated GitHub Enterprise Server user could potentially exploit this to manipulate issues across public repositories hosted on the affected instance.
The exploitation is limited to public repositories, which somewhat constrains the attack surface. However, for organizations hosting sensitive open-source projects or using public repositories for community engagement, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to project integrity and workflow management.
Root Cause
The root cause is an Incorrect Authorization implementation (CWE-863) in the issue management API or web interface of GitHub Enterprise Server. The authorization logic fails to properly validate whether the authenticated user has the appropriate permissions to modify issue metadata before allowing title, assignee, and label modifications. This bypass allows users who can view a public repository to also modify issue properties without having write access.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by any authenticated user with low-level privileges. An attacker would need to:
- Have valid authentication credentials for the target GitHub Enterprise Server instance
- Identify a public repository on the instance
- Submit requests to modify issue titles, assignees, or labels
- The server incorrectly authorizes these requests despite lacking proper write permissions
The attack does not require user interaction and can be performed programmatically via the GitHub API or web interface. While no verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available, the exploitation mechanism involves standard API calls or form submissions to the issue modification endpoints with manipulated authorization context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7711
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to issue titles, assignees, or labels in public repositories
- Audit log entries showing issue modifications by users without write access to the repository
- Pattern of issue metadata changes from users who are not repository collaborators
- Anomalous API activity targeting issue endpoints from accounts with limited repository permissions
Detection Strategies
- Review GitHub Enterprise Server audit logs for issue modification events and correlate with user permission levels
- Monitor for API requests to issue update endpoints from users who lack write access to the target repository
- Implement alerts for bulk or automated issue modifications that bypass normal workflow patterns
- Enable enhanced audit logging for repository administration events
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure real-time alerting on GitHub Enterprise Server audit logs for issue modification anomalies
- Implement regular permission audits to identify unauthorized issue changes
- Monitor repository activity dashboards for unexpected patterns in issue management
- Establish baseline activity patterns for public repositories to detect deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7711
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade GitHub Enterprise Server to patched versions immediately: 3.11.14, 3.12.8, 3.13.3, or 3.14 and later
- Review audit logs for evidence of exploitation since the vulnerability was disclosed
- Verify integrity of issue metadata in critical public repositories
- Consider temporarily restricting access to sensitive public repositories until patching is complete
Patch Information
GitHub has released security patches addressing this vulnerability in multiple supported versions. Organizations should update to one of the following fixed versions based on their current deployment:
Note: GitHub Enterprise Server version 3.10 is not affected by this vulnerability. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.
Workarounds
- Convert sensitive public repositories to private temporarily until patches can be applied
- Implement additional monitoring and alerting on issue modification events through third-party tools
- Review and tighten organization-level policies for repository visibility settings
- Enable branch protection and require pull request reviews to maintain oversight of repository changes
# Verify current GitHub Enterprise Server version
ghe-version
# Check for available updates
ghe-upgrade -s
# Apply the security update (example for 3.13.3)
ghe-upgrade github-enterprise-3.13.3.pkg
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
