CVE-2020-10518: Unsafe configuration options in GitHub Pages leading to remote code execution on GitHub Enterprise Server
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 36/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 3.6% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 89.8% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server 2.21.6.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server 2.21.6 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
A remote code execution vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that could be exploited when building a GitHub Pages site. User-controlled configuration of the underlying parsers used by GitHub Pages were not sufficiently restricted and made it possible to execute commands on the GitHub Enterprise Server instance. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need permission to create and build a GitHub Pages site on the GitHub Enterprise Server instance. This vulnerability affected all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server prior to 2.22 and was fixed in 2.21.6, 2.20.15, and 2.19.21. The underlying issues contributing to this vulnerability were identified both internally and through the GitHub Security Bug Bounty program.
- Published
- Aug 27, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.6% · 89th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-77
Report tools
Action score
36
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 35 / 40 · 8.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.6%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
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Is your version affected?
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| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| github | github | cpe:2.3:a:github:github |
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_P). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server
- 2.19 and later · before 2.19.21affected
- 2.20 and later · before 2.20.15affected
- 2.21 and later · before 2.21.6affected
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- github githubbefore 2.19.21
- github github2.20.0 and later · before 2.20.15
- github github2.21.0 and later · before 2.21.6
Same product
github: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-18365The Management Console in GitHub Enterprise 2.8.x before 2.8.7 has a deserialization issue that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to…60This week
- CVE-2020-10516Improper access control in GitHub Enterprise Server leading to privilege escalation of organization member39Monitor
- CVE-2020-10519Unsafe configuration options in GitHub Pages leading to remote code execution on GitHub Enterprise Server36Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2012-2055Apr 5, 2012 · GitHub Enterprise before 20120304 does not properly restrict the use of a hash to provide values for a model's attributes, which allows…31Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-10517Aug 27, 2020 · Improper access control in GitHub Enterprise Server leading to the enumeration of private repository names17Monitor
- Later →CVE-2021-22861Mar 3, 2021 · Improper access control in GitHub Enterprise Server leading to unauthorized write access to forkable repositories26Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server | 2.21.6 · description | Vendor (CNA) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · variant or chain candidate.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-77 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- LDAP InjectionCAPEC-136likelihood: High · High
- Command DelimitersCAPEC-15likelihood: High · High
- IMAP/SMTP Command InjectionCAPEC-183Medium
- Command InjectionCAPEC-248likelihood: Medium · High
- Manipulating Writeable Terminal DevicesCAPEC-40likelihood: High · Very High
- Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation LayersCAPEC-43likelihood: Medium · High
- Manipulating Writeable Configuration FilesCAPEC-75likelihood: High · Very High
- Manipulating Web Input to File System CallsCAPEC-76likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
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Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
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References
Show all references (2 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.