implementing-github-advanced-security-for-code-scanning

Files (5)

• SKILL.md
• template.md · assets/
• standards.md · references/
• workflows.md · references/
• process.py · scripts/

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Implementing GitHub Advanced Security for Code Scanning

## Overview

GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) integrates CodeQL-powered static application security testing directly into the GitHub development workflow. CodeQL treats code as data, enabling semantic analysis that identifies security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows, and authentication flaws with significantly fewer false positives than traditional pattern-matching scanners. GHAS encompasses code scanning, secret scanning, dependency review, and Dependabot alerts to provide a comprehensive security posture for repositories.

## Prerequisites

- GitHub Enterprise Cloud or GitHub Enterprise Server 3.0+ with GHAS license
- Repository admin or organization owner permissions
- Familiarity with GitHub Actions workflow syntax (YAML)
- Supported languages: C/C++, C#, Go, Java/Kotlin, JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Ruby, Swift

## Core Concepts

### CodeQL Analysis Engine

CodeQL compiles source code into a queryable database, then executes security-focused queries against that database. The query suites ship with hundreds of checks mapped to CWE identifiers and cover OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25, and language-specific vulnerability patterns. Custom queries can be authored using the CodeQL query language (QL) to detect organization-specific anti-patterns.

### Default Setup vs. Advanced Setup

**Default Setup** enables code scanning with a single click from the repository's Code Security settings. GitHub automatically determines the languages present, selects appropriate query suites, and configures scanning triggers. This approach requires no workflow file and is ideal for rapid onboarding.

**Advanced Setup** generates a `.github/workflows/codeql.yml` workflow file that can be customized. Teams control scheduling, language matrices, build commands for compiled languages, additional query packs, and integration with third-party SARIF producers. Advanced setup is required when custom build steps, monorepo configurations, or private query packs are needed.

### Organization-Wide Rollout

For enterprises managing hundreds of repositories, GHAS supports configuring code scanning at scale using the organization-level security overview. Administrators can enable default setup across all eligible repositories, define custom security configurations, and monitor adoption through the security coverage dashboard.

## Implementation Steps

### Step 1 --- Enable GHAS on the Organization

1. Navigate to Organization Settings > Code security and analysis
2. Enable GitHub Advanced Security for all repositories or selected repositories
3. Confirm license seat allocation (GHAS is billed per active committer)

### Step 2 --- Configure Default Setup for Quick Wins

1. Go to Repository Settings > Code security > Code scanning
2. Click "Set up" in the CodeQL analysis row and select "Default"
3. Review the auto-detected languages and query suite (default or extended)
4. Click "Enable CodeQL" to activate scanning on push and pull request events

### Step 3 --- Advanced Setup with Custom Workflow

Create `.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml`:

```yaml
name: "CodeQL Analysis"

on:
  push:
    branches: [main, develop]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]
  schedule:
    - cron: '30 2 * * 1'  # Weekly Monday 2:30 AM UTC

jobs:
  analyze:
    name: Analyze (${{ matrix.language }})
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    permissions:
      security-events: write
      contents: read
      actions: read

    strategy:
      fail-fast: false
      matrix:
        language: ['javascript-typescript', 'python', 'java-kotlin']

    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Initialize CodeQL
        uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
        with:
          languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
          queries: +security-extended,security-and-quality
          # For compiled languages, add build commands below

      - name: Autobuild
        uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v3

      - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
        with:
          category: "/language:${{ matrix.language }}"
```

### Step 4 --- Custom Query Packs

Install organization-specific query packs by referencing them in the workflow:

```yaml
- name: Initialize CodeQL
  uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
  with:
    languages: java-kotlin
    packs: |
      my-org/java-custom-queries@1.0.0
      codeql/java-queries:cwe/cwe-089
```

### Step 5 --- Configure Branch Protection Rules

1. Navigate to Repository Settings > Branches > Branch protection rules
2. Enable "Require status checks to pass" and add the CodeQL analysis check
3. Enable "Require code scanning results" and set severity thresholds (e.g., block on High/Critical)

### Step 6 --- Secret Scanning and Push Protection

1. Enable secret scanning from Code security settings
2. Activate push protection to block commits containing detected secrets
3. Configure custom patterns for organization-specific secrets (API keys, internal tokens)

From Njones17/AI-agent-master-cyber-skills-list, MIT.

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