Adjust alert messages actions CWE-829

Author: knewbury01

actions/ql/src/Security/CWE-829/ArtifactPoisoningCritical.ql

@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ where
   ArtifactPoisoningFlow::flowPath(source, sink) and
   event = getRelevantEventInPrivilegedContext(sink.getNode())
 select sink.getNode(), source, sink,
-  "Potential artifact poisoning, which may be controlled by an external user ($@).", event,
-  event.getName()
+  "Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@).",
+  event, event.getName()

actions/ql/src/Security/CWE-829/ArtifactPoisoningMedium.ql

@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ where
   ArtifactPoisoningFlow::flowPath(source, sink) and
   inNonPrivilegedContext(sink.getNode().asExpr())
 select sink.getNode(), source, sink,
-  "Potential artifact poisoning, which may be controlled by an external user."
+  "Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user."

actions/ql/src/change-notes/2026-04-02-alert-msg-poisoning.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 ---
 category: majorAnalysis
 ---
-* Fixed alert messages in `actions/artifact-poisoning/critical` and `actions/artifact-poisoning/medium` as they previously included a redundant placeholder in the alert message that would on occasion contain a long block of yml that makes the alert difficult to understand.
+* Fixed alert messages in `actions/artifact-poisoning/critical` and `actions/artifact-poisoning/medium` as they previously included a redundant placeholder in the alert message that would on occasion contain a long block of yml that makes the alert difficult to understand. Also clarify the wording to make it clear that it is not the artifact that is being poisoned, but instead a potentially untrusted artifact that is consumed.

actions/ql/test/query-tests/Security/CWE-829/ArtifactPoisoningCritical.expected

@@ -55,21 +55,21 @@ nodes
 | .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | semmle.label | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n |
 subpaths
 #select
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:38:11:38:77 | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:13:9:32:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:38:11:38:77 | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:38:11:38:77 | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:38:11:38:25 | python foo/x.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:13:9:32:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:38:11:38:25 | python foo/x.py | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:38:11:38:25 | python foo/x.py | python foo/x.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:19:14:20:21 | sh foo/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:13:9:18:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:19:14:20:21 | sh foo/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:19:14:20:21 | sh foo/cmd\n | sh foo/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:18:14:18:19 | sh cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:13:9:17:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:18:14:18:19 | sh cmd | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:18:14:18:19 | sh cmd | sh cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:19:14:19:22 | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:13:9:15:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:19:14:19:22 | ./foo/cmd | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:19:14:19:22 | ./foo/cmd | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:20:14:22:23 | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:20:14:22:23 | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:20:14:22:23 | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:22:14:22:22 | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:13:9:21:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:22:14:22:22 | ./foo/cmd | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:22:14:22:22 | ./foo/cmd | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:22:14:22:18 | ./cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:13:9:21:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:22:14:22:18 | ./cmd | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:22:14:22:18 | ./cmd | ./cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:17:14:18:40 | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:9:9:16:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:17:14:18:40 | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:17:14:18:40 | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:4:5:4:16 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:31:14:31:27 | python test.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:28:9:31:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:31:14:31:27 | python test.py | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:31:14:31:27 | python test.py | python test.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:3:5:3:23 | pull_request_target | pull_request_target |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:28:9:29:6 | Uses Step | .github/actions/download-artifact-2/action.yaml:6:7:25:4 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:28:9:29:6 | Uses Step | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:28:9:29:6 | Uses Step | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:3:3:3:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:29:14:29:26 | make snapshot | .github/actions/download-artifact-2/action.yaml:6:7:25:4 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:29:14:29:26 | make snapshot | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:29:14:29:26 | make snapshot | make snapshot | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:3:3:3:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:18:14:18:24 | npm install | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:13:9:18:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:18:14:18:24 | npm install | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:18:14:18:24 | npm install | npm install | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:2:3:2:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:17:14:19:59 | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:10:9:16:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:17:14:19:59 | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:17:14:19:59 | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:4:3:4:21 | pull_request_target | pull_request_target |
-| .github/workflows/test18.yml:36:15:40:58 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/test18.yml:12:15:33:12 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/test18.yml:36:15:40:58 | Uses Step | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/test18.yml:36:15:40:58 | Uses Step | Uses Step | .github/workflows/test18.yml:3:5:3:16 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
-| .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | .github/workflows/test25.yml:22:9:32:6 | Uses Step: downloadBuildScan | .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | Potential artifact poisoning in $@, which may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | .github/workflows/test25.yml:2:3:2:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:38:11:38:77 | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:13:9:32:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:38:11:38:77 | ./sonarcloud-data/x.py build -j$(nproc) --compiler gcc --skip-build | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning11.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:38:11:38:25 | python foo/x.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:13:9:32:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:38:11:38:25 | python foo/x.py | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning12.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:19:14:20:21 | sh foo/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:13:9:18:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:19:14:20:21 | sh foo/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning21.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:18:14:18:19 | sh cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:13:9:17:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:18:14:18:19 | sh cmd | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning22.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:19:14:19:22 | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:13:9:15:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:19:14:19:22 | ./foo/cmd | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning31.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning32.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:17:14:18:20 | ./bar/cmd\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning33.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:20:14:22:23 | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:13:9:16:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:20:14:22:23 | npm install\nnpm run lint\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning34.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:22:14:22:22 | ./foo/cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:13:9:21:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:22:14:22:22 | ./foo/cmd | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning41.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:22:14:22:18 | ./cmd | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:13:9:21:6 | Run Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:22:14:22:18 | ./cmd | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning42.yml:4:3:4:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:17:14:18:40 | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:9:9:16:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:17:14:18:40 | sed -f config foo.md > bar.md\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning71.yml:4:5:4:16 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:31:14:31:27 | python test.py | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:28:9:31:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:31:14:31:27 | python test.py | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning81.yml:3:5:3:23 | pull_request_target | pull_request_target |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:28:9:29:6 | Uses Step | .github/actions/download-artifact-2/action.yaml:6:7:25:4 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:28:9:29:6 | Uses Step | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:3:3:3:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:29:14:29:26 | make snapshot | .github/actions/download-artifact-2/action.yaml:6:7:25:4 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:29:14:29:26 | make snapshot | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning92.yml:3:3:3:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:18:14:18:24 | npm install | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:13:9:18:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:18:14:18:24 | npm install | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning96.yml:2:3:2:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:17:14:19:59 | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:10:9:16:6 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:17:14:19:59 | PR_NUMBER=$(./get_pull_request_number.sh pr_number.txt)\necho "PR_NUMBER=$PR_NUMBER" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT \n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/artifactpoisoning101.yml:4:3:4:21 | pull_request_target | pull_request_target |
+| .github/workflows/test18.yml:36:15:40:58 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/test18.yml:12:15:33:12 | Uses Step | .github/workflows/test18.yml:36:15:40:58 | Uses Step | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/test18.yml:3:5:3:16 | workflow_run | workflow_run |
+| .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | .github/workflows/test25.yml:22:9:32:6 | Uses Step: downloadBuildScan | .github/workflows/test25.yml:39:14:40:45 | ./gradlew buildScanPublishPrevious\n | Potential artifact poisoning; the artifact being consumed has contents that may be controlled by an external user ($@). | .github/workflows/test25.yml:2:3:2:14 | workflow_run | workflow_run |