{
  "schema": "vedokrok.public-item.v1",
  "release_id": "MHC-RPUB-20260920-75ad787a",
  "url": "/knowledge/give-workflow-changes-their-own-approval-gate",
  "id": "MHC-D-RESEARCH-0663",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "title": "Give workflow changes their own approval gate",
  "summary": "A workflow file can turn a code diff into privileged execution.",
  "kind": "protocol",
  "body": "Flag workflow, deployment and release configuration changes separately. Require review by the appropriate owner before workflows receive secrets, elevated tokens or deployment capability. Do not let a passing application test suite auto-approve a new execution pipeline.",
  "limits": [
    "Exact controls depend on CI platform; apply the same principle to any pipeline with credentials or deployment authority."
  ],
  "topics": [
    "union-ai-assisted-coding-safeguards"
  ],
  "intents": [],
  "source_ids": [
    "RS-1C68AE8325C384C0",
    "RS-AF6C3AA11CD6EA39"
  ],
  "evidence": [
    {
      "claim": "OWASP treats rules files, build scripts, CI workflows and package lifecycle scripts as security-sensitive control surfaces that deserve heightened review when an agent changes them.",
      "source_id": "RS-1C68AE8325C384C0",
      "role": "supports",
      "note": "The exact sensitive-file set depends on the repository and build system.",
      "locator": "Rules Files; Prompt-to-Code Supply Chain Risk"
    },
    {
      "claim": "GitHub documentation says Copilot agent pull requests should receive the same thorough review as other contributions and warns reviewers to inspect workflow changes before allowing privileged Actions runs.",
      "source_id": "RS-AF6C3AA11CD6EA39",
      "role": "supports",
      "note": "This is GitHub-specific implementation guidance; the general pattern is independent review before privileged execution.",
      "locator": "Review Copilot's changes; Manage GitHub Actions workflow runs"
    }
  ],
  "use_when": [
    "An agent edits CI/CD configuration as part of another task."
  ],
  "avoid_when": [
    "Exact controls depend on CI platform; apply the same principle to any pipeline with credentials or deployment authority."
  ],
  "example": "A PR that changes a GitHub Actions permission from read to write cannot merge under the normal application-code review alone.",
  "check": "Privileged automation changes have a visible approval distinct from feature correctness.",
  "steps": [
    "Workflow diff highlighted.",
    "Permissions reviewed.",
    "Secret use reviewed.",
    "Third-party actions reviewed.",
    "Trigger conditions reviewed.",
    "Owner explicitly approves."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "RS-1C68AE8325C384C0",
      "title": "Secure Coding with AI Cheat Sheet",
      "url": "https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Secure_Coding_with_AI_Cheat_Sheet.html"
    },
    {
      "id": "RS-AF6C3AA11CD6EA39",
      "title": "Review output from Copilot",
      "url": "https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-on-github/use-copilot-agents/review-copilot-output"
    }
  ],
  "relations": [],
  "collections": [
    {
      "id": "RC-E25DB1788236EF13",
      "title": "Let coding agents move fast inside a reviewable security boundary",
      "url": "/collections/let-coding-agents-move-fast-inside-a-reviewable-security-boundary"
    }
  ]
}