GitHub Advanced Security
What is GHAS (GitHub Advanced Security)?
GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) is a security suite offered by GitHub to help developers identify, prevent, and remediate security vulnerabilities directly within their repositories. It includes code scanning, secret scanning, and dependency review to enhance software security.
Key Features of GHAS
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Code Scanning | Uses GitHub CodeQL to detect security vulnerabilities in source code. |
| Secret Scanning | Identifies hardcoded credentials (e.g., API keys, tokens) in repositories. |
| Dependency Review | Highlights vulnerabilities in dependencies before merging pull requests. |
| Dependency Graph | Maps dependencies and alerts on known security issues. |
| Push Protection | Prevents committing secrets to repositories in real time. |
How GHAS Helps Developers
Early Detection – Finds security issues in code before they reach production.
Automated Scanning – Runs security checks on every pull request.
Prevents Credential Leaks – Alerts if sensitive data is pushed to a repository.
Minimizes Security Risks – Identifies vulnerabilities in dependencies.
Seamless GitHub Integration – Works directly in GitHub without external tools.
GHAS vs. Free GitHub Security Features
| Feature | GitHub Free Security | GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) |
|---|---|---|
| Code Scanning | ✅ Manual setup with CodeQL | ✅ Automated and customizable scans |
| Secret Scanning | ❌ Alerts only for public repos | ✅ Alerts for public & private repos |
| Dependency Review | ✅ Basic alerts | ✅ Advanced insights & approval gates |
| Push Protection | ❌ Not available | ✅ Blocks secrets in commits |
| Security Dashboards | ❌ Limited visibility | ✅ Advanced security analytics |
Who Should Use GHAS?
Organizations with sensitive data – Helps prevent leaks of API keys and secrets.
Enterprises with strict security policies – Automates security compliance.
Development teams working with open-source software – Protects against supply chain attacks.
How to Enable GHAS
- Go to GitHub Repository → Security Tab
2️. Enable Code Scanning and Secret Scanning
3️. Configure CodeQL Workflow for automatic scans
4️. Monitor Security Alerts in GitHub Advanced Security Dashboard
How to See Security Issues in GitHub Advanced Security
If your repository has GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) enabled, you can view security issues such as code vulnerabilities, secrets exposure, and dependency risks directly within GitHub.
Viewing Security Issues in GitHub
Option 1: Using the GitHub Security Tab
- Go to Your Repository in GitHub.
- Click on "Security" in the repository menu.
- Select Code scanning alerts, Secret scanning alerts, or Dependabot alerts to see specific issues.
Option 2: Using GitHub Issues (If Enabled)
- If security alerts are set to create GitHub issues, navigate to "Issues" in your repository to see security-related tickets.
Option 3: Viewing Security Issues in GitHub Enterprise Security Dashboard
- Go to GitHub Enterprise or Organization Security Overview:
- For a single repo:
[your-repo-url]/security - For an organization:
[github.com/orgs/your-org/security]
- For a single repo:
- Use filters to sort by severity, type, or repository.
Viewing GHAS Alerts for Specific Security Features
| Feature | How to View Issues |
|---|---|
| Code Scanning Alerts (e.g., CodeQL) | Security > Code Scanning Alerts |
| Secret Scanning Alerts (hardcoded credentials) | Security > Secret Scanning Alerts |
| Dependency Alerts (Dependabot) | Security > Dependency Graph > Dependabot Alerts |
| Push Protection Violations | Security > Secret Scanning > Push Protection |
Using GitHub API or CLI to Fetch GHAS Issues
If you prefer automation, you can use:
GitHub CLI
gh security alerts list --repo owner/repo
GitHub API
curl -H "Authorization: token YOUR_GITHUB_TOKEN" \https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/code-scanning/alerts
Setting Up Notifications for GHAS Issues
To stay informed:
- Enable email notifications for security alerts in GitHub settings.
- Configure Slack or Microsoft Teams integrations for security updates.
- Set up GitHub Actions to enforce security scans before merges.
Conclusion
You can see GHAS security issues through the Security tab, GitHub Issues, Enterprise Security Dashboard, or programmatically via GitHub API/CLI. Regularly checking these alerts helps ensure secure code, compliance, and risk mitigation.
GHAS is a powerful proactive security solution that helps developers secure their code, prevent vulnerabilities, and manage risks directly within GitHub. 🚀 If your organization prioritizes security, enabling GitHub Advanced Security can reduce security incidents and protect your software supply chain.