CVE-2022-39321
GitHub Actions Runner vulnerable to Docker Command Escaping
GitHub Actions Runner is the application that runs a job from a GitHub Actions workflow. The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered in versions prior to 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4 that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable. The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers in versions 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4. GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions. As a workaround, users may consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from their jobs until they are able to upgrade their runner versions.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.8
GitHub Actions Runner vulnerable to Docker Command Escaping
GitHub Actions Runner is the application that runs a job from a GitHub Actions workflow. The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered in versions prior to 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4 that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable. The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers in versions 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4. GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions. As a workaround, users may consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from their jobs until they are able to upgrade their runner versions.
- Record
CVE-2022-39321- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-6988
8.8
GitHub Actions Runner is the application that runs a job from a GitHub Actions workflow. The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered in versions prior to 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4 that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable. The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers in versions 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4. GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions. As a workaround, users may consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from their jobs until they are able to upgrade their runner versions.
- Record
EUVD-2022-6988- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3
8.8
Docker Command Escaping in the GitHub Actions Runner
Impact
The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable.
Patches
The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers. Please update to one of the following versions of the runner:
- 2.296.2
- 2.293.1
- 2.289.4
- 2.285.2
- 2.283.4
GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions.
Workarounds
You may want to consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from your jobs until you are able to upgrade your runner versions.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the actions runner
- Record
GHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.8
GitHub Actions Runner is the application that runs a job from a GitHub Actions workflow. The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered in versions prior to 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4 that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable. The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers in versions 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4. GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions. As a workaround, users may consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from their jobs until they are able to upgrade their runner versions.
- Record
CVE-2022-39321- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 9.9 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.8
GitHub Actions Runner vulnerable to Docker Command Escaping
GitHub Actions Runner is the application that runs a job from a GitHub Actions workflow. The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered in versions prior to 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4 that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable. The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers in versions 2.296.2, 2.293.1, 2.289.4, 2.285.2, and 2.283.4. GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions. As a workaround, users may consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from their jobs until they are able to upgrade their runner versions.
- Record
CVE-2022-39321- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3
8.8
Docker Command Escaping in the GitHub Actions Runner
Impact
The actions runner invokes the docker cli directly in order to run job containers, service containers, or container actions. A bug in the logic for how the environment is encoded into these docker commands was discovered that allows an input to escape the environment variable and modify that docker command invocation directly. Jobs that use container actions, job containers, or service containers alongside untrusted user inputs in environment variables may be vulnerable.
Patches
The Actions Runner has been patched, both on github.com and hotfixes for GHES and GHAE customers. Please update to one of the following versions of the runner:
- 2.296.2
- 2.293.1
- 2.289.4
- 2.285.2
- 2.283.4
GHES and GHAE customers may want to patch their instance in order to have their runners automatically upgrade to these new runner versions.
Workarounds
You may want to consider removing any container actions, job containers, or service containers from your jobs until you are able to upgrade your runner versions.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the actions runner
- Record
GHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
2.294.0 up to 2.296.1 | 2.296.1 |
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
2.290.0 up to 2.293.1 | 2.293.1 |
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
2.286.0 up to 2.289.4 | 2.289.4 |
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
2.284.0 up to 2.285.2 | 2.285.2 |
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
before 2.283.4 | 2.283.4 |
actions/runnerGitHub Actions |
2.294.0 up to 2.296.2 | 2.296.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-39321 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Actions Runner, published October 25, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.96%, the 80th percentile. Fixed in actions/runner 2.296.1.
References
github.com/actions/runner/security/advisories/GHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3
github.com/actions/runner/pull/2107
github.com/actions/runner/pull/2108
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-39321
github.com/advisories/GHSA-2c6m-6gqh-6qg3
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/39xxx/CVE-2022-39321.json
github.com/actions/runner