Identify compromised versions of GitHub apps using JupiterOne

by

Written by Brendan Quinn and Yvie Djieya

On January 30, 2023 GitHub disclosed that unauthorized users had gained access to repositories that contained encrypted code signing certificates for its Desktop and Atom applications. These certificates were password protected and there is no current evidence of malicious use, according to GitHub, but customers are still advised to take precautions before impacted certificates are deprecated.

As a preventative measure, GitHub will be deprecating the Mac and Windows signing certificates used to sign Desktop app versions 3.0.2-3.1.2 and Atom versions 1.63.0-1.63.1 on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Once deprecated, these certificates can no longer be used to sign code. GitHub recommends updating Desktop and/or downgrading Atom before February 2nd to avoid workflow disruptions.

The following J1 queries can be used to help identify which devices in your environment have the compromised versions of the application installed:

GitHub Desktop

FIND Application WITH displayName ~= ('GitHub' OR 'Github') AS x 
THAT INSTALLED AS r (Device|Host) AS y 
WHERE r.version = ('3.1.2' OR '3.1.1' OR '3.1.0' OR '3.0.8' OR '3.0.7' OR '3.0.6' OR '3.0.5' OR '3.0.4' OR '3.0.2')
RETURN 
x.displayName AS GitHub_Desktop_App,
r.version AS Compromised_Version,
r._class AS Is, 
y.displayName AS On, 
y.email AS Owned_By

GitHub Atom

FIND Application WITH displayName ~= ('Atom.app') AS x 
THAT INSTALLED AS r (Device|Host) AS y 
WHERE r.version = ('1.63.1' OR '1.63.0')
RETURN 
x.displayName AS GitHub_Desktop_App,
r.version AS Compromised_Version,
r._class AS Is, 
y.displayName AS On, 
y.email AS Owned_By

New call-to-action
JupiterOne Team
JupiterOne Team

The JupiterOne Team is a diverse set of engineers and developers who are working on the next generation of cyber asset visibility and monitoring.

Keep Reading

6 Top Axonius Alternatives & Competitors in 2026 | JupiterOne
July 12, 2026
Blog
Top Axonius Alternatives for 2026: 6 CAASM Platforms Compared

Comparing Axonius alternatives? See how six platforms stack up from the security graph to OT/IoT discovery and which one fits your environment.

What Is Unified Vulnerability Management? | JupiterOne
July 9, 2026
Blog
What Is Unified Vulnerability Management? (And Why Most Definitions Miss the Point)

The category renamed itself in 2026 but consolidation is just the baseline. The real dividing line in UVM: a list or a graph.

The AI Act Slowed Down. Your AI Didn't | JupiterOne
June 8, 2026
Blog
The AI Act Slowed Down. Your AI Didn't

The EU AI Act's high-risk deadlines moved to 2027 — but AI keeps shipping. Why the delay is a window, not a reprieve, for security and risk leaders.