Ensure previous approvals are dismissed when updates are introduced to a code change proposal

HighLevel 1Automatedgithub

Description

Ensure that when a proposed code change is updated, previous approvals are declined, and new approvals are required. An approval process is necessary when code changes are suggested. Through this approval process, however, changes can still be made to the original proposal even after some approvals have already been given. Checks the default branch: stale approvals are dismissed on new commits. 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_pull_request_reviews.dismiss_stale_reviews == true' 2>/dev/null) || p=false
s=$(gh api "repos/$R/rules/branches/$B" --jq 'any(.[]; .type == "pull_request" and .parameters.dismiss_stale_reviews_on_push == true)' 2>/dev/null) || s=false
[ "$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 Dismiss stale pull request approvals when new commits are pushed.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: githubsource-code
Reference: CIS GitHub Benchmark v1.2.0 - 1.1.4 Ensure previous approvals are dismissed when updates are introduced to a code change proposal

Check this host

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

shell

tmaegis scan --target github