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GitHub Secret Scanning Alert for a Publicly Leaked Secret

Detects GitHub secret scanning creating an alert for a secret that it has determined is publicly leaked ("github.publicly_leaked == true"). Unlike a generic secret-scanning finding, a publicly leaked secret means…

Description

Detects GitHub secret scanning creating an alert for a secret that it has determined is publicly leaked ("github.publicly_leaked == true"). Unlike a generic secret-scanning finding, a publicly leaked secret means GitHub observed the credential exposed outside the repository's access boundary (for example in a public repository, gist, or other public location), so it should be treated as a confirmed credential compromise requiring immediate rotation rather than a low-signal scanner event. Gating on the public-leak flag also removes most of the noise from dummy strings and test fixtures, which are typically confined to private repositories and are not flagged as publicly leaked.

Detection logic

Its licence does not clear it for publishing here

Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteSaaSWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Known benign triggers

  • Example or dummy tokens that are themselves committed to a public repository can still be flagged as publicly leaked. Tune by repository, pattern name (`github.secret_type`), or known test org when such keys are expected.

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