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Actively exploited

CVE-2025-30066 tj-actions/changed-files GitHub Action Embedded Malicious Code Vulnerability

tj-actions/changed-files GitHub Action contains an embedded malicious code vulnerability that allows a remote attacker to discover secrets by reading Github Actions Workflow Logs. These secrets may include, but are not limited to, valid AWS access keys, GitHub personal access tokens (PATs), npm tokens, and private RSA keys.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch urgentlyCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 18 Mar 2025.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 8.6, scored by Vendor).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 598 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

tj-actions changed-files before 46 allows remote attackers to discover secrets by reading actions logs. (The tags v1 through v45.0.7 were affected on 2025-03-14 and 2025-03-15 because they were modified by a threat actor to point at commit 0e58ed8, which contained malicious updateFeatures code.)

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
tj-actions changed-files1 to before 46

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for tj-actions changed-files GitHub Action. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply mitigations as set forth in the CISA instructions linked below. Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 8 Apr 2025 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2025-30066
  3. CVE record: CVE-2025-30066
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. github.com/github/docs/blob/962a1c8dccb8c0f66548b324e5b921b5e4fbc3d6/content/actions/security-for-gi
  6. github.com/tj-actions/changed-files/issues/2463
  7. stepsecurity.io/blog/harden-runner-detection-tj-actions-changed-files-action-is-compromised
  8. semgrep.dev/blog/2025/popular-github-action-tj-actionschanged-files-is-compromised/
  9. news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43368870
  10. web.archive.org/web/20250315060250/https://github.com/tj-actions/changed-files/issues/2463
  11. news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43367987
  12. github.com/rackerlabs/genestack/pull/903