Spotipy is a Python library for the Spotify Web API. As of commit 4f5759dbfb4506c7b6280572a4db1aabc1ac778d, using `pull_request_target` on `.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml` followed by the checking out the head.sha of a forked PR can be exploited by attackers, since untrusted code can be executed having full access to secrets (from the base repo). By exploiting the vulnerability is possible to exfiltrate `GITHUB_TOKEN` and secrets `SPOTIPY_CLIENT_ID`, `SPOTIPY_CLIENT_SECRET`. In particular `GITHUB_TOKEN` which can be used to completely overtake the repo since the token has content write privileges. The `pull_request_target` in GitHub Actions is a major security concern—especially in public repositories—because it executes untrusted code from a PR, but with the context of the base repository, including access to its secrets. Commit 9dfb7177b8d7bb98a5a6014f8e6436812a47576f reverted the change that caused the issue.
The vulnerability results from using the `pull_request_target` trigger in the `.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml` file in combination with code fetching from the fork head (head.sha) within a pull request. The `pull_request_target` trigger executes code in the context of the base repository — including access to its secrets — even if the code originates from an external fork. An attacker could thus submit a malicious pull request whose code would run with the privileges of the target repository. As a result, secret exfiltration was possible: `GITHUB_TOKEN`, `SPOTIPY_CLIENT_ID`, and `SPOTIPY_CLIENT_SECRET`.
An attacker could obtain full access to repository secrets, including the `GITHUB_TOKEN` with write permissions to content, enabling complete repository takeover (e.g., code modification, backdoor injection into the supply chain).
The issue was resolved by reverting the vulnerable change in commit 9dfb7177b8d7bb98a5a6014f8e6436812a47576f. The repository should be updated to a version containing this commit. Additionally, it is recommended to audit all GitHub Actions workflows for the use of `pull_request_target` with code fetching from external forks and rotate potentially compromised secrets.
The spotipy-dev/spotipy repository — GitHub Actions-based CI/CD environment, in versions containing commit 4f5759dbfb4506c7b6280572a4db1aabc1ac778d
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N