---
title: "CVE-2025-54416: tj-actions/branch-names has a Command Injection Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2025-54416/
description: "CVE-2025-54416 (tj-actions/branch-names (GitHub Actions)): tj-actions/branch-names is a Github actions repository that contains workflows to retrieve branch…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2025-07-26
date_modified: 2025-07-28
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2025-54416"
kev: false
cvss: 9.1
epss: 0.00652
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2025-54416: tj-actions/branch-names has a Command Injection Vulnerability

**Signal:** Critical, preconditions apply. Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Not in CISA KEV , but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 0.7% , percentile 51: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 51% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes tj-actions/branch-names (GitHub Actions) <= 8.2.1, fixed in 9.0.0 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

tj-actions/branch-names is a Github actions repository that contains workflows to retrieve branch or tag names with support for all events. In versions 8.2.1 and below, a critical vulnerability has been identified in the tj-actions/branch-names' GitHub Action workflow which allows arbitrary command execution in downstream workflows. This issue arises due to inconsistent input sanitization and unescaped output, enabling malicious actors to exploit specially crafted branch names or tags. While internal sanitization mechanisms have been implemented, the action outputs remain vulnerable, exposing consuming workflows to significant security risks. This is fixed in version 9.0.0

## Affected packages

- GitHub Actions `tj-actions/branch-names` <= 8.2.1 → fixed: 9.0.0

## Affected products (CVE record)

- tj-actions branch-names: < 9.0.0

## Severity

- GitHub_M CVSS 3.1: 9.1 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.1 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc , automatable no , technical impact partial .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 51.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-gq52-6phf-x2r6](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gq52-6phf-x2r6)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2025-54416](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-54416)
- [NVD entry CVE-2025-54416](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-54416)
- [github.com](https://github.com/tj-actions/branch-names/security/advisories/GHSA-gq52-6phf-x2r6)
- [github.com](https://github.com/tj-actions/branch-names/commit/e497ceb8ccd43fd9573cf2e375216625bc411d1f)
- [github.com](https://github.com/tj-actions/branch-names/releases/tag/v9.0.0)
- [github.com](https://github.com/tj-actions/branch-names/security/advisories/GHSA-8v8w-v8xg-79rf)
- [github.com](https://github.com/tj-actions/changed-files/security/advisories/GHSA-mcph-m25j-8j63)
- [github.blog](https://github.blog/security/application-security/how-to-secure-your-github-actions-workflows-with-codeql)
- [securitylab.github.com](https://securitylab.github.com/resources/github-actions-untrusted-input)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2025-54416/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt