Ensure open Git branches are up to date before they can be merged into code base

MediumLevel 1Automatedgithub

Description

Organizations should make sure each suggested code change is in full sync with the existing state of its origin code repository before allowing merging. Git branches can easily become outdated since the origin code repository is constantly being edited. This means engineers working on separate code branches can accidentally include outdated code with potential security ... Checks the default branch: branches must be up to date (strict status checks). Satisfied by classic branch protection or an active ruleset (rules/branches). Uses the GitHub REST/GraphQL API through gh api (read-only). The repository comes from GH_REPO or the current git checkout (gh's {owner}/{repo} resolution, GH_HOST for GitHub Enterprise Server); the organization comes from GH_ORG (default: the repository owner). Fails when gh is missing or unauthenticated (gh auth login or GH_TOKEN); organization settings and branch protection need an owner/admin token.

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

command -v gh >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 1
gh auth status >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 1
info=$(gh api 'repos/{owner}/{repo}' --jq '.full_name + " " + .default_branch' 2>/dev/null) || exit 1
R=${info% *}; B=${info#* }
[ -n "$R" ] && [ -n "$B" ] || exit 1
p=$(gh api "repos/$R/branches/$B/protection" --jq '.required_status_checks.strict == true' 2>/dev/null) || p=false
s=$(gh api "repos/$R/rules/branches/$B" --jq 'any(.[]; .type == "required_status_checks" and .parameters.strict_required_status_checks_policy == true)' 2>/dev/null) || s=false
[ "$p" = true ] || [ "$s" = true ] && echo compliant

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Settings > Branches (or Rules > Rulesets) for the default branch: enable Require branches to be up to date before merging.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: githubsource-code
Reference: CIS GitHub Benchmark v1.2.0 - 1.1.10 Ensure open Git branches are up to date before they can be merged into code base

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target github