Ethical Hacking News
SpotBugs Access Token Theft: A Supply Chain Attack Reveal
The attackers exploited a GitHub Actions workflow in SpotBugs to gain initial access into the system. The attackers obtained their initial access by taking advantage of a shared personal access token (PAT) from the maintainer of the SpotBugs repository. The attackers managed to obtain write permissions for the "spotbugs/spotbugs" repository by creating a malicious commit under a fictional username. The attackers pushed a branch to the repository, accessed CI secrets, and waited three months before targeting Coinbase. The lack of logging revealed the attack and ultimately led to the attackers' downfall. The attack highlights the importance of secure access tokens in open-source software projects and the need for robust incident response strategies.
The latest cybersecurity news has unveiled a shocking revelation regarding a supply chain attack that targeted several major companies, including Coinbase, and was ultimately linked to the theft of an access token from the popular open-source tool SpotBugs. According to Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, the attackers exploited a GitHub Actions workflow in SpotBugs to gain initial access into the system, which enabled them to move laterally between different repositories, until they eventually gained access to ReviewDog.
The attack is believed to have begun as far back as November 2024, but it wasn't until March 2025 that the malicious activity came to light. The attackers obtained their initial access by taking advantage of a GitHub Actions workflow in SpotBugs, which allowed them to move laterally between different repositories, including ReviewDog. This is where things get interesting - researchers have discovered that the maintainer of the SpotBugs repository had actually shared their personal access token (PAT) with the GitHub community.
The attacker somehow managed to obtain write permissions for the "spotbugs/spotbugs" repository by creating a malicious commit under the username "jurkaofavak". This was done by inviting themselves to the repository as a member, which is an unusual scenario, but not entirely surprising in today's world of open-source software.
Once they had obtained write permissions, the attackers were able to push a branch to the repository and access CI secrets. It is believed that this malicious activity was carried out over a period of three months, during which time the attackers waited for the perfect moment to strike at their high-value target - Coinbase.
In an interesting twist, researchers have pointed out that it seems odd that the attackers didn't print their secrets to logs, as they would have done in a traditional attack scenario. However, this lack of logging actually worked against them, as it revealed their attack and ultimately led to their downfall.
The attack highlights the importance of secure access tokens in open-source software projects. The fact that an attacker was able to obtain write permissions for the SpotBugs repository by exploiting a GitHub Actions workflow is a clear indication of how vulnerable we are when it comes to our personal data.
It's also worth noting that this attack has significant implications for companies like Coinbase, which were ultimately targeted because they relied on third-party tools and services. The fact that an attacker was able to exploit a vulnerability in one tool to gain access to another highlights the need for robust incident response strategies and secure supply chain management practices.
In conclusion, the recent supply chain attack linked to SpotBugs serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity best practices and the need for companies to prioritize their security posture. The fact that an attacker was able to exploit a vulnerability in an open-source tool to gain access to multiple repositories is a clear indication of how vulnerable we are when it comes to our personal data.
Summary:
A recent supply chain attack linked to SpotBugs has revealed a shocking scenario where attackers exploited a GitHub Actions workflow to gain initial access into the system and eventually accessed ReviewDog. The attackers obtained their initial access by exploiting a vulnerability in SpotBugs, which allowed them to move laterally between different repositories. This highlights the importance of secure access tokens in open-source software projects and the need for companies to prioritize their security posture.
SpotBugs Access Token Theft: A Supply Chain Attack Reveal
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/SpotBugs-Access-Token-Theft-A-Supply-Chain-Attack-Reveal-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2025/04/spotbugs-access-token-theft-identified.html
Published: Fri Apr 4 08:38:23 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
