CVE-2025-30154: reviewdog/action-setup GitHub Action Embedded Malicious Code Vulnerability

CVE-2025-30154 is an embedded malicious code vulnerability in the reviewdog/action-setup GitHub Action. The issue allows the action to dump exposed secrets into GitHub Actions workflow logs. This matters for IT and security teams because secrets such as tokens, keys, or credentials that appear in CI/CD logs can be read by anyone with access to those logs, enabling further unauthorized access to repositories, cloud resources, or other connected systems.

Organizations that rely on GitHub Actions for automated builds, tests, or reviews should treat this as a supply-chain risk in their pipelines. Confirm all version and configuration details against the vendor advisory, as public information is limited to the high-level description provided by CISA.

How it works

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-506 (Embedded Malicious Code). In this case, the reviewdog/action-setup GitHub Action contains code that intentionally or maliciously writes exposed secrets into the standard GitHub Actions workflow logs. Once secrets are present in those logs, they become visible to users or processes that can view workflow run output.

An attacker who can influence or observe the workflow (for example, through a compromised repository, a pull request that triggers the action, or legitimate access to logs) can harvest the dumped secrets. No further exploit mechanics are detailed in the available facts; teams should treat any use of the affected action as a potential secret-exposure vector and verify exact behavior against the vendor advisory.

Am I affected? How to find it in your systems

The component runs inside GitHub Actions workflows, typically as a step that sets up the reviewdog tool for code review or linting tasks. It is commonly referenced in YAML workflow files under .github/workflows/.

• Inventory all repositories that use GitHub Actions by searching for the string "reviewdog/action-setup" or "action-setup" in workflow YAML files across your organization.
• Check both public and private repositories, including forked or archived ones that may still run scheduled or event-triggered workflows.
• Review the version or tag pinned for the action (for example, @v1 or a commit SHA) and compare it against the versions listed as affected in the vendor advisory; do not assume any particular release is safe without confirmation.
• Examine recent workflow run logs for unexpected secret material, base64-encoded blobs, or environment variables that should never appear in plaintext output.
• Enable or review GitHub audit logs and secret-scanning alerts for any indications that secrets were written to logs or later used from unexpected locations.

If the action appears in any workflow, treat the repository as potentially affected until the advisory confirms otherwise.

How to remediate

Apply the vendor-supplied update or mitigation for reviewdog/action-setup as soon as it is available. Follow the exact instructions in the vendor advisory and the CISA guidance for this CVE. CISA also directs organizations to apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

• Replace or remove every reference to the vulnerable action in all workflow files.
• Rotate any secrets that may have been exposed in workflow logs, including GitHub tokens, cloud credentials, and third-party API keys.
• Re-run secret-scanning tools across the organization after rotation to confirm no residual exposure.
• Document the change and verify that subsequent workflow runs no longer emit secrets.

Hardening steps for this class of issue include pinning actions to full commit SHAs rather than mutable tags, restricting workflow permissions to the minimum required, and enabling GitHub's secret scanning and push protection features.

If you can't patch immediately

Until the vendor update can be applied, reduce risk with the following compensating controls:

• Discontinue use of reviewdog/action-setup entirely; replace it with an alternative setup method or remove the dependent workflow steps.
• Limit who can view workflow logs by tightening repository and organization permissions.
• Add monitoring rules that alert on the presence of the action name or on any secret-like patterns appearing in logs.
• Segment CI/CD runners and secrets so that a single compromised workflow cannot reach high-value credentials.
• Consider temporary virtual patching via organization-level policy that blocks the action from running, if your GitHub plan supports it.

These measures lower the chance of secret leakage but do not eliminate the underlying malicious code; plan to remediate fully as soon as possible.

If your data may have been exposed

Actively exploited vulnerabilities of this type can lead to credential theft and subsequent breaches. If workflow logs may have contained secrets, assume those secrets are compromised, rotate them immediately, and review access logs for unauthorized use. You can also run a free exposure scan of your email addresses against known breach data to determine whether related accounts have appeared in prior incidents.