From ef09b88f3eacdbec6ce135a7c9a193a6849545c1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Michal Dorner <dorner.michal@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2026 13:45:25 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Document safe handling of file list outputs in workflows
 (#326)

Recommend passing *_files values through env: instead of interpolating them directly into run: scripts, and update README examples and CI workflows to follow that pattern.

Credits: https://github.com/tjswlsgg
---
 .github/workflows/pull-request-verification.yml | 16 ++++++++++++----
 README.md                                       | 14 ++++++++++++--
 2 files changed, 24 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull-request-verification.yml b/.github/workflows/pull-request-verification.yml
index 13fe10d..e8b7555 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull-request-verification.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull-request-verification.yml
@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ jobs:
           excludesOnly:
             - '!**/*.md'
     - name: Print 'mobile_files'
-      run: echo ${{steps.filter.outputs.mobile_files}}
+      env:
+        MOBILE_FILES: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.mobile_files }}
+      run: echo "$MOBILE_FILES"
     - name: filter-test
       if: |
         steps.filter.outputs.mobile != 'true'
@@ -227,11 +229,17 @@ jobs:
           any:
             - added|deleted|modified: "*"
     - name: Print 'added_files'
-      run: echo ${{steps.filter.outputs.added_files}}
+      env:
+        ADDED_FILES: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.added_files }}
+      run: echo "$ADDED_FILES"
     - name: Print 'modified_files'
-      run: echo ${{steps.filter.outputs.modified_files}}
+      env:
+        MODIFIED_FILES: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.modified_files }}
+      run: echo "$MODIFIED_FILES"
     - name: Print 'deleted_files'
-      run: echo ${{steps.filter.outputs.deleted_files}}
+      env:
+        DELETED_FILES: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.deleted_files }}
+      run: echo "$DELETED_FILES"
     - name: filter-test
       if: |
         steps.filter.outputs.added != 'true'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 333f848..b675fd5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ For more scenarios see [examples](#examples) section.
 
 ## Notes
 
+- **Security:** `${FILTER_NAME}_files` outputs contain filenames that may be attacker-influenced on pull requests.
+  Do not interpolate them directly into a `run:` script with `${{ ... }}`.
+  Pass the value through `env:` and reference the variable from the shell instead.
+  See [Custom processing of changed files](#custom-processing-of-changed-files).
 - Paths expressions are evaluated using [picomatch](https://github.com/micromatch/picomatch) library.
   Documentation for path expression format can be found on the project GitHub page.
 - Picomatch [dot](https://github.com/micromatch/picomatch#options) option is set to true.
@@ -205,7 +209,7 @@ For more information, see [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/dorny/paths-filter/blob
     - `'true'` - if **any** changed file matches **at least one** of the filter's rules and **none** of its negated rules
     - `'false'` - if **no** changed file matches **at least one** of the filter's rules and **none** of its negated rules
 - Each filter sets an output variable with the name `${FILTER_NAME}_count` to the count of matching files.
-- If enabled, for each filter it sets an output variable with the name `${FILTER_NAME}_files`. It will contain a list of all files matching the filter.
+- If enabled, for each filter it sets an output variable with the name `${FILTER_NAME}_files`. It will contain a list of all files matching the filter. Treat these values as untrusted when filenames can come from pull requests.
 - `changes` - JSON array with names of all filters matching any of the changed files.
 
 ## Examples
@@ -589,9 +593,13 @@ jobs:
         - added|modified: '*.md'
 - name: Lint Markdown
   if: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.markdown == 'true' }}
-  run: npx textlint ${{ steps.filter.outputs.markdown_files }}
+  env:
+    MARKDOWN_FILES: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.markdown_files }}
+  run: npx textlint $MARKDOWN_FILES
 ```
 
+When passing file lists to shell commands, use `env:` as shown above. Do not write `${{ steps.filter.outputs.markdown_files }}` directly inside the `run:` script.
+
 </details>
 
 <details>
@@ -617,6 +625,8 @@ jobs:
     files: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.changed_files }}
 ```
 
+The `json` and `csv` formats are intended as structured data for scripts, programs, or other actions. Passing them to an action input as above is fine. Do not interpolate `json` or `csv` outputs directly into a `run:` script.
+
 </details>
 
 ## See also