VNX-GH-201: Default branch is not protected

Neither branch protection nor a ruleset applies to the default branch.

Updated 02 Nov 2026Checked against cli@24498404a, vdb-sca-match@v0.8.14

Anyone with write access, including a compromised token, a leaked deploy key, or a workflow with contents: write, can push directly to the default branch, rewrite its history or delete it, and the change ships without review.


Severity	High
Confidence	high
CWE	CWE-284, CWE-862
Command	`vulnetix gha settings`, `vulnetix gha audit`
Needs	repo, branches. Without them the rule is reported as not evaluated, never as passed.

Remediation

Add a ruleset targeting the default branch that requires pull requests with at least one approval, blocks force pushes and deletions, and requires status checks.

Run only this rule

vulnetix gha settings --rule VNX-GH-201

Scoring

CWSS vector at the rule’s default severity: CWSS:1.0/TI:H/AP:A/AL:A/IC:N/FC:LT/RP:N/RL:A/AV:I/AS:N/IN:A/SC:A/BI:H/DI:H/EX:M/EC:N/P:W. A finding whose severity the repository’s settings moved is scored at its adjusted severity.

All rules: GitHub rules.

Edit this pageSources: vdb-sca-match/ghaudit/rules_settings.go, cli/internal/ghtasks/docs.go