> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.endorlabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Scan GitHub Actions

> Scan the GitHub Actions used in your workflow files for vulnerabilities, malware, and risky configuration.

export const YamlTable = ({children, data: propData, content}) => {
  const KV_RE = /^([A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_()/#\s-]+?):\s*(.+)$/;
  const INLINE_MD_RE = /(\[([^\]]+)\]\(([^)]+)\))|(`([^`]+)`)|(\*\*([^*]+)\*\*)|(\*([^*]+)\*)/g;
  const YES_RE = /^-yes-$/i;
  const NO_RE = /^-no-$/i;
  const LIMITED_RE = /^-(limited|partial)-$/i;
  const NA_RE = /^-(na|none)-$/i;
  const NA2_RE = /^-na2-$/i;
  const SIMPLE_TAG_RE = /(<br\s*\/?>)|(<p\s*\/?>)|(-note-)|(-warning-)/gi;
  const renderSuccessIcon = () => <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="100%" height="100%" aria-hidden="true">
      <path d="M12 2C6.48 2 2 6.48 2 12C2 17.52 6.48 22 12 22C17.52 22 22 17.52 22 12C22 6.48 17.52 2 12 2ZM10 17L5 12L6.41 10.59L10 14.17L17.59 6.58L19 8L10 17Z" fill="currentColor" />
    </svg>;
  const renderFailureIcon = () => <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="100%" height="100%" aria-hidden="true">
      <path fillRule="evenodd" clipRule="evenodd" d="M11.9902 1.98633C12.5208 1.9864 13.0426 2.12743 13.501 2.39453C13.9581 2.66107 14.3372 3.04388 14.5986 3.50391L22.5967 17.5L22.6895 17.6738C22.8921 18.0851 22.9979 18.5387 22.9981 18.999C22.9981 19.5253 22.8605 20.0431 22.5977 20.499C22.3348 20.9549 21.9555 21.3332 21.5 21.5967C21.0445 21.8601 20.5272 21.9994 20.001 22H4.00001C3.47453 22.0031 2.95699 21.868 2.50001 21.6084C2.04032 21.3471 1.65712 20.9684 1.39063 20.5117C1.12431 20.055 0.983643 19.5355 0.982429 19.0068C0.981281 18.4793 1.11967 17.9611 1.38282 17.5039L9.38184 3.50391C9.64344 3.04359 10.023 2.66111 10.4805 2.39453C10.9388 2.12755 11.4598 1.98636 11.9902 1.98633ZM12 16.9004C11.3925 16.9004 10.9004 17.3925 10.9004 18C10.9004 18.6075 11.3925 19.0996 12 19.0996H12.0098C12.6173 19.0996 13.1104 18.6075 13.1104 18C13.1104 17.3925 12.6173 16.9004 12.0098 16.9004H12ZM12 5.90039C11.3925 5.9004 10.9004 6.39249 10.9004 7V13C10.9004 13.6075 11.3925 14.0996 12 14.0996C12.6075 14.0996 13.0996 13.6075 13.0996 13V7C13.0996 6.39249 12.6075 5.90039 12 5.90039Z" fill="currentColor" />
    </svg>;
  const renderPartialSuccessIcon = () => <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="100%" height="100%" aria-hidden="true">
      <path d="M12 1C18.0751 1 23 5.92487 23 12C23 18.0751 18.0751 23 12 23C5.92487 23 1 18.0751 1 12C1 5.92487 5.92487 1 12 1ZM12 3C7.02944 3 3 7.02944 3 12C3 16.9706 7.02944 21 12 21C16.9706 21 21 16.9706 21 12C21 7.02944 16.9706 3 12 3ZM12 5C13.8565 5 15.6374 5.73705 16.9502 7.0498C18.263 8.36256 19 10.1435 19 12C19 13.8565 18.263 15.6374 16.9502 16.9502C15.6374 18.263 13.8565 19 12 19C11.4477 19 11 18.5523 11 18V6C11 5.73478 11.1054 5.4805 11.293 5.29297C11.4805 5.10543 11.7348 5 12 5Z" fill="currentColor" />
    </svg>;
  const renderPendingIcon = () => <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="100%" height="100%" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" aria-hidden="true">
      <path d="M10.1 2.182a10 10 0 0 1 3.8 0" />
      <path d="M13.9 21.818a10 10 0 0 1-3.8 0" />
      <path d="M17.609 3.721a10 10 0 0 1 2.69 2.7" />
      <path d="M2.182 13.9a10 10 0 0 1 0-3.8" />
      <path d="M20.279 17.609a10 10 0 0 1-2.7 2.69" />
      <path d="M21.818 10.1a10 10 0 0 1 0 3.8" />
      <path d="M3.721 6.391a10 10 0 0 1 2.7-2.69" />
      <path d="M6.391 20.279a10 10 0 0 1-2.69-2.7" />
    </svg>;
  const renderRunningIcon = () => <svg className="yt-status-running-svg" viewBox="22 22 44 44" width="100%" height="100%" aria-hidden="true">
      <circle className="yt-status-running-circle" cx="44" cy="44" r="20.2" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="3.6" />
    </svg>;
  const renderSkippedIcon = () => <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="100%" height="100%" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" aria-hidden="true">
      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" />
      <path d="M8 12h8" />
    </svg>;
  const STATUS_ICON_DEFS = [{
    re: /^-status-success-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-success',
    label: 'Success',
    render: renderSuccessIcon
  }, {
    re: /^-status-failure-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-failure',
    label: 'Failure',
    render: renderFailureIcon
  }, {
    re: /^-status-partial-success-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-partial',
    label: 'Partial success',
    render: renderPartialSuccessIcon
  }, {
    re: /^-status-pending-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-neutral',
    label: 'Pending',
    render: renderPendingIcon
  }, {
    re: /^-status-running-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-neutral',
    label: 'Running',
    render: renderRunningIcon
  }, {
    re: /^-status-skipped-$/i,
    colorClass: 'yt-status-color-neutral',
    label: 'Skipped',
    render: renderSkippedIcon
  }];
  const renderStatusBadge = def => <span className={['yt-status-icon', def.colorClass].join(' ')} role="img" aria-label={def.label} title={def.label}>
      {def.render()}
    </span>;
  const tryParseKV = trimmed => {
    const m = KV_RE.exec(trimmed);
    return m ? {
      key: m[1],
      value: m[2].trim()
    } : null;
  };
  const registerKey = (key, seenKeys, orderedKeys) => {
    if (!seenKeys.has(key)) {
      orderedKeys.push(key);
      seenKeys.add(key);
    }
  };
  const flushEntry = (currentEntry, entries) => {
    if (Object.keys(currentEntry).length > 0) entries.push(currentEntry);
  };
  const parseDashPrefixed = (lines, entries, orderedKeys, seenKeys) => {
    let currentEntry = {};
    let inEntry = false;
    for (const line of lines) {
      const trimmed = line.trim();
      if (trimmed.startsWith('- ')) {
        if (inEntry) entries.push(currentEntry);
        currentEntry = {};
        inEntry = true;
        const kv = tryParseKV(trimmed.substring(2).trim());
        if (kv) {
          registerKey(kv.key, seenKeys, orderedKeys);
          currentEntry[kv.key] = kv.value;
        }
      } else if (inEntry && trimmed !== '') {
        const kv = tryParseKV(trimmed);
        if (kv) {
          registerKey(kv.key, seenKeys, orderedKeys);
          currentEntry[kv.key] = kv.value;
        }
      }
    }
    flushEntry(currentEntry, entries);
  };
  const parseBlankSeparated = (lines, entries, orderedKeys, seenKeys) => {
    let currentEntry = {};
    let inEntry = false;
    for (const line of lines) {
      const trimmed = line.trim();
      if (trimmed === '') {
        if (inEntry) {
          flushEntry(currentEntry, entries);
          currentEntry = {};
          inEntry = false;
        }
        continue;
      }
      const kv = tryParseKV(trimmed);
      if (!kv) continue;
      const isNewEntry = !line.startsWith(' ') && !line.startsWith('\t');
      if (isNewEntry && inEntry && Object.keys(currentEntry).length > 0) {
        entries.push(currentEntry);
        currentEntry = {};
      }
      registerKey(kv.key, seenKeys, orderedKeys);
      currentEntry[kv.key] = kv.value;
      inEntry = true;
    }
    flushEntry(currentEntry, entries);
  };
  const normalizeEntries = (entries, orderedKeys) => entries.map(entry => {
    const filled = {};
    for (const key of orderedKeys) filled[key] = entry[key] || '';
    return filled;
  });
  const parseYamlTableContent = contentStr => {
    if (!contentStr) return [];
    const entries = [];
    const orderedKeys = [];
    const seenKeys = new Set();
    const lines = contentStr.split('\n');
    if (lines.some(line => line.trim().startsWith('- '))) {
      parseDashPrefixed(lines, entries, orderedKeys, seenKeys);
    } else {
      parseBlankSeparated(lines, entries, orderedKeys, seenKeys);
    }
    return normalizeEntries(entries, orderedKeys);
  };
  const processText = text => {
    if (!text) return text;
    const parts = [];
    let keyIndex = 0;
    let lastIndex = 0;
    let match;
    while ((match = INLINE_MD_RE.exec(text)) !== null) {
      if (match.index > lastIndex) parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex, match.index));
      if (match[1]) {
        parts.push(<a key={keyIndex++} href={match[3]}>{match[2]}</a>);
      } else if (match[4]) {
        parts.push(<code key={keyIndex++}>{match[5]}</code>);
      } else if (match[6]) {
        parts.push(<strong key={keyIndex++}>{match[7]}</strong>);
      } else if (match[8]) {
        parts.push(<em key={keyIndex++}>{match[9]}</em>);
      }
      lastIndex = match.index + match[0].length;
    }
    if (lastIndex < text.length) parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex));
    if (parts.length === 0) return text;
    const keyRef = {
      current: keyIndex
    };
    return expandHtmlTags(parts, keyRef);
  };
  const processBadges = text => {
    if (!text || typeof text !== 'string') return text;
    if (YES_RE.test(text)) return <span className="yt-badge-yes" role="img" aria-label="Supported" title="Supported">✓</span>;
    if (NO_RE.test(text)) return <span className="yt-badge-no" role="img" aria-label="Not supported" title="Not supported">✗</span>;
    if (LIMITED_RE.test(text)) return <span className="yt-badge-limited" role="img" aria-label="Partially supported" title="Partially supported">◐</span>;
    if (NA_RE.test(text) || NA2_RE.test(text)) return <span className="yt-sr-only" title="Not applicable">Not applicable</span>;
    const statusBadge = STATUS_ICON_DEFS.find(def => def.re.test(text));
    if (statusBadge) return renderStatusBadge(statusBadge);
    return processText(text);
  };
  const cellClassName = text => {
    if (!text || typeof text !== 'string') return undefined;
    if (NA_RE.test(text)) return 'yt-cell-na';
    if (NA2_RE.test(text)) return 'yt-cell-na2';
    return undefined;
  };
  const expandSimpleTags = (str, keyRef) => {
    const result = [];
    let last = 0;
    SIMPLE_TAG_RE.lastIndex = 0;
    let m;
    while ((m = SIMPLE_TAG_RE.exec(str)) !== null) {
      if (m.index > last) result.push(str.slice(last, m.index));
      if (m[1]) {
        result.push(<br key={keyRef.current++} />);
      } else if (m[2]) {
        result.push(<br key={keyRef.current++} />, <br key={keyRef.current++} />);
      } else if (m[3]) {
        result.push(<span key={keyRef.current++} className="yt-badge-note" style={{
          fontWeight: 600
        }}>Note: </span>);
      } else if (m[4]) {
        result.push(<span key={keyRef.current++} className="yt-badge-warning" style={{
          fontWeight: 600
        }}>Warning: </span>);
      }
      last = m.index + m[0].length;
    }
    if (last < str.length) result.push(str.slice(last));
    return result;
  };
  const expandHtmlTags = (chunks, keyRef) => {
    const out = [];
    for (const chunk of chunks) {
      if (typeof chunk === 'string') {
        out.push(...expandSimpleTags(chunk, keyRef));
      } else {
        out.push(chunk);
      }
    }
    return out;
  };
  const extractText = node => {
    if (node === null || node === undefined) return '';
    if (typeof node === 'string') return node;
    if (typeof node === 'number') return String(node);
    if (typeof node === 'boolean') return '';
    if (Array.isArray(node)) return node.map(extractText).join('');
    if (node && typeof node === 'object' && node.type) {
      const props = node.props || ({});
      if (typeof props.children === 'string') return props.children;
      if (props.children) return extractText(props.children);
      return '';
    }
    return String(node || '');
  };
  const [mounted, setMounted] = useState(false);
  const scrollWrapRef = useRef(null);
  const [isScrollable, setIsScrollable] = useState(false);
  useEffect(() => {
    setMounted(true);
  }, []);
  const data = useMemo(() => {
    if (propData) return propData;
    if (content && typeof content === 'string') return parseYamlTableContent(content);
    if (!children) return [];
    if (typeof children === 'string') return parseYamlTableContent(children);
    const childrenArray = Array.isArray(children) ? children : [children];
    return parseYamlTableContent(childrenArray.map(extractText).join('').trim());
  }, [children, propData, content]);
  const columns = useMemo(() => {
    if (!data || data.length === 0) return [];
    const firstRow = data[0];
    if (!firstRow || typeof firstRow !== 'object') return [];
    return Object.keys(firstRow);
  }, [data]);
  useEffect(() => {
    const wrap = scrollWrapRef.current;
    if (!wrap) return undefined;
    const updateScrollable = () => {
      setIsScrollable(wrap.scrollWidth > wrap.clientWidth);
    };
    updateScrollable();
    const observer = new ResizeObserver(updateScrollable);
    observer.observe(wrap);
    return () => observer.disconnect();
  }, [mounted, data]);
  if (!mounted) return null;
  if (!data || data.length === 0) return null;
  const rowKey = row => columns.map(c => row[c] || '').join('|');
  return <div ref={scrollWrapRef} style={{
    overflowX: 'auto',
    margin: '1.75rem 0'
  }} role={isScrollable ? 'region' : undefined} aria-label={isScrollable ? 'Scrollable table' : undefined} tabIndex={isScrollable ? 0 : undefined}>
      <table style={{
    display: 'table',
    width: '100%',
    minWidth: '100%',
    margin: 0
  }}>
        <thead>
          <tr>
            {columns.map(col => <th key={col}>{col.replaceAll('_', ' ')}</th>)}
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          {data.map(row => <tr key={rowKey(row)}>
              {columns.map(col => <td key={col} className={cellClassName(row[col])}>{processBadges(row[col])}</td>)}
            </tr>)}
        </tbody>
      </table>
    </div>;
};

GitHub Actions scanning analyzes third-party Actions your workflows depend on. It is not the same as [Scanning with GitHub Actions](/setup-deployment/ci-cd/scan-with-github-actions), which runs Endor Labs inside a CI job on GitHub-hosted runners. Here you analyze Actions referenced in workflow files under `.github/workflows/` (including subdirectories), relative to the directory you scan.

Scanning those dependencies gives you visibility into supply chain risk in CI. You can detect known vulnerabilities, malware, and unsafe patterns in workflow YAML.

## How Endor Labs scans your workflows

Endor Labs discovers workflow files only under `.github/workflows/` relative to the directory you scan (`--path`, default the current directory). It walks that folder recursively and includes files with a `.yml` or `.yaml` extension. Workflow files outside that tree are not part of discovery.

From those files, Endor Labs resolves each `uses:` reference as a GitHub Actions dependency and models each action as a package with direct and transitive dependencies.

Endor Labs also evaluates workflow YAML with analytics and raises findings for risky configurations.

## What Endor Labs detects

The following table summarizes the main areas. For policy names and severities, see [GitHub Action policies](/platform-administration/policies/finding-policies/github-action-policies).

<YamlTable>
  {`


    - Area: Action dependencies
    What_is_checked: Vulnerabilities and malware in the GitHub Actions that your workflows reference.
    Learn_more: See [View GitHub Action findings](/inventory-insights/findings#view-github-action-findings).

    - Area: Workflow YAML
    What_is_checked: Imposter commits, script injection risks, misuse of secrets in expressions, unsafe checkouts with \`pull_request_target\`, and non-OIDC cloud authentication patterns.
    Learn_more: See [Policies for assessing configuration settings in workflow files](/platform-administration/policies/finding-policies/github-action-policies#policies-for-assessing-configuration-settings-in-workflow-files).

    - Area: GitHub organization and repository posture
    What_is_checked: Default workflow token permissions, which repositories may run GitHub Actions, runner group exposure, and workflows that create or approve PRs without human review.
    Learn_more: See [Policies for RSPM](/platform-administration/policies/finding-policies/github-action-policies#policies-for-rspm).


    `}
</YamlTable>

## Automate enforcement with action policies

[Action policies](/platform-administration/policies/action-policies) determine the automated response when a GitHub Action finding matches. Examples include failing a CI check, adding a PR comment, or sending a notification.

Use the [GitHub Actions policy template](/platform-administration/policies/action-policies/templates#github-actions) to create action policies that target workflow-related findings. The template exposes parameters such as finding name (defaults include **Unpinned direct dependency**, **Untrusted code checkout**, and **Imposter commit**) and severity.

## Enable GitHub Actions scanning

You can scan GitHub Actions through the Endor Labs GitHub App, Endor Labs GitHub Action, or with endorctl.

### Scan GitHub Actions with GitHub App

When you install the [Endor Labs GitHub Cloud App Pro](/setup-deployment/scm-integrations/github-app) or the [GitHub Enterprise Server App](/setup-deployment/scm-integrations/github-app/github-enterprise-app), enable **GitHub Actions** among the scanners. That schedules repository scans that include workflow dependency and posture analysis. See also [Scan capabilities of the Endor Labs GitHub Apps](/setup-deployment/scm-integrations/github-app/scan-with-githubapp).

### Scan GitHub Actions with Endor Labs GitHub Action

In your CI workflow, pass `scan_github_actions: true` to the Endor Labs GitHub Action. See [GitHub Action configuration parameters](/setup-deployment/ci-cd/scan-with-github-actions#endor-labs-github-action-configuration-parameters).

### Scan GitHub Actions with endorctl

Run the following command to scan the GitHub Actions in your repository.

```bash theme={null}
endorctl scan --ghactions
```

The flag enables GitHub Actions workflow scanning. You can combine it with other scan options as needed. The environment variable is `ENDOR_SCAN_GHACTIONS`. For the full CLI reference, see [endorctl scan](/developers-api/cli/commands/scan).

## Limitations of GitHub Actions scanning

GitHub Actions scanning has the following limitations:

* Endor Labs detects vulnerabilities and dependencies for GitHub Action packages written in JavaScript or TypeScript.
* Private GitHub Actions and private reusable workflows referenced from other repositories are not detected.
* Test dependencies are not detected for GitHub Action packages.