---
title: 'GitHub Action'
description: 'Run Prowler scans in GitHub Actions using the official Docker-based action'
---

import { VersionBadge } from "/snippets/version-badge.mdx"

<VersionBadge version="5.25.0" />

The official **Prowler GitHub Action** runs Prowler scans inside your GitHub workflows using the official [`prowlercloud/prowler`](https://hub.docker.com/r/prowlercloud/prowler) Docker image. It supports every [Prowler provider](/user-guide/providers/) (AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, GitHub, Cloudflare, IaC, and more), optionally pushes findings to Prowler Cloud, and uploads SARIF results to GitHub Code Scanning so findings appear in the **Security** tab and as inline PR annotations.

Source: [`prowler-cloud/prowler`](https://github.com/prowler-cloud/prowler) · Marketplace listing: [Prowler Security Scan](https://github.com/marketplace/actions/prowler-security-scan).

## Inputs

| Input | Required | Default | Description |
|-------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `provider` | yes | — | Cloud provider to scan (`aws`, `azure`, `gcp`, `github`, `kubernetes`, `iac`, `cloudflare`, etc.) |
| `image-tag` | no | `stable` | Docker image tag — `stable` (latest release), `latest` (master, not stable), or `<x.y.z>` (pinned). See [available tags](https://hub.docker.com/r/prowlercloud/prowler/tags). |
| `output-formats` | no | `json-ocsf` | Output format(s) for scan results. Space-separated (e.g. `sarif json-ocsf`) |
| `push-to-cloud` | no | `false` | Push findings to [Prowler Cloud](/user-guide/tutorials/prowler-import-findings). When `true`, `PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY` is auto-forwarded |
| `flags` | no | `""` | Additional CLI flags (e.g. `--severity critical high`). Values with spaces can be quoted: `--resource-tag 'Environment=My Server'` |
| `extra-env` | no | `""` | Space-, newline-, or comma-separated list of env var **names** to forward to the container (see [Authentication](#authentication)) |
| `upload-sarif` | no | `false` | Upload SARIF results to GitHub Code Scanning |
| `sarif-file` | no | `""` | Path to SARIF file (auto-detected from `output/` if not set) |
| `sarif-category` | no | `prowler` | Category for the SARIF upload (distinguishes multiple analyses) |
| `fail-on-findings` | no | `false` | Fail the workflow step when findings are detected (exit code 3) |

## Usage

### AWS scan

```yaml
- uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
  with:
    provider: aws
    extra-env: AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY AWS_SESSION_TOKEN
  env:
    AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
    AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
    AWS_SESSION_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.AWS_SESSION_TOKEN }}
```

### Push findings to Prowler Cloud

Send scan results directly to [Prowler Cloud](/user-guide/tutorials/prowler-import-findings) for centralized visibility, compliance tracking, and team collaboration.

```yaml
- uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
  with:
    provider: aws
    push-to-cloud: true
    extra-env: AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY AWS_SESSION_TOKEN
  env:
    AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
    AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
    AWS_SESSION_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.AWS_SESSION_TOKEN }}
    PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY }}
```

<Info>
When `push-to-cloud: true`, `PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY` is forwarded automatically — set it in `env:` but don't list it in `extra-env`. Requires a Prowler Cloud subscription and an API key with the **Manage Ingestions** permission. See [API Keys](/user-guide/tutorials/prowler-app-api-keys).
</Info>

### Upload SARIF to GitHub Code Scanning

Findings appear in the **Security** tab and as **inline PR annotations** when SARIF upload is enabled.

```yaml
name: Prowler IaC Scan
on:
  pull_request:

permissions:
  contents: read
  security-events: write
  actions: read

jobs:
  prowler:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
        with:
          provider: iac
          output-formats: sarif json-ocsf
          upload-sarif: true
          flags: --severity critical high
```

<Warning>
**Requirements:**
- Include `sarif` in `output-formats` (the action warns if this is missing).
- The workflow needs `security-events: write` and `actions: read` permissions.
- GitHub Code Scanning is free for public repositories. Private repositories require a [GitHub Code Security](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/learning-about-github/about-github-advanced-security) license.
</Warning>

### Combine push-to-cloud with SARIF upload

```yaml
- uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
  with:
    provider: aws
    output-formats: sarif json-ocsf
    push-to-cloud: true
    upload-sarif: true
    extra-env: AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY AWS_SESSION_TOKEN
  env:
    AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
    AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
    AWS_SESSION_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.AWS_SESSION_TOKEN }}
    PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY }}
```

### Scan the current repository with the GitHub provider

```yaml
name: Prowler GitHub Scan
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 * * 0'
  workflow_dispatch:

jobs:
  prowler:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
        with:
          provider: github
          flags: --repository ${{ github.repository }}
          extra-env: GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN
        env:
          GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROWLER_GITHUB_PAT }}
```

<Info>
`--repository` scans a single repo. Use `--organization <name>` instead to include org-level checks (MFA, security policies, etc.). See the [GitHub provider authentication](/user-guide/providers/github/authentication) for required token permissions.
</Info>

### Fail the PR on findings

By default the action tolerates findings (exit code 3) and succeeds. Set `fail-on-findings: true` to fail the workflow step when Prowler detects findings. Combine with `--severity` to control which severity levels trigger the failure:

```yaml
- uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
  with:
    provider: iac
    output-formats: sarif
    upload-sarif: true
    fail-on-findings: true
    flags: --severity critical high
```

The scan step fails if critical/high findings are detected, blocking the PR via required checks. SARIF is still uploaded (the upload step runs with `if: always()`) so findings appear in the Security tab regardless.

## Authentication

Each provider requires its own credentials passed as environment variables. Credentials are **not forwarded automatically** — list every env var name you need in the `extra-env` input, and set its value via `env:` at the step, job, or workflow level (typically from `secrets.*`).

Refer to the [Prowler provider docs](/user-guide/providers/) for the full list of variables each provider supports. Common ones:

| Provider | Typical `extra-env` |
|----------|---------------------|
| AWS | `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY AWS_SESSION_TOKEN AWS_DEFAULT_REGION` (OIDC exports these automatically) |
| Azure | `AZURE_CLIENT_ID AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET AZURE_TENANT_ID` |
| GCP | `GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS CLOUDSDK_AUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` |
| GitHub | `GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` *(or `GITHUB_OAUTH_APP_TOKEN`, or `GITHUB_APP_ID GITHUB_APP_KEY`)* |
| Kubernetes | `KUBECONFIG` |
| Cloudflare | `CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN` *(or `CLOUDFLARE_API_KEY CLOUDFLARE_API_EMAIL`)* |

<Info>
`PROWLER_CLOUD_API_KEY` is auto-forwarded when `push-to-cloud: true` — no need to add it to `extra-env`.
</Info>

### AWS

Use [aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials](https://github.com/aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials) with OIDC (recommended) or pass static credentials. OIDC sets `AWS_*` env vars on the runner, so you only forward them:

```yaml
permissions:
  id-token: write
  contents: read

steps:
  - uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
    with:
      role-to-assume: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/ProwlerRole
      aws-region: eu-west-1

  - uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
    with:
      provider: aws
      extra-env: AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY AWS_SESSION_TOKEN AWS_DEFAULT_REGION
```

### Azure

Use [azure/login](https://github.com/Azure/login) with a service principal or pass credentials directly:

```yaml
steps:
  - uses: azure/login@v2
    with:
      creds: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CREDENTIALS }}

  - uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
    with:
      provider: azure
      extra-env: AZURE_CLIENT_ID AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET AZURE_TENANT_ID
    env:
      AZURE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
      AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET }}
      AZURE_TENANT_ID: ${{ secrets.AZURE_TENANT_ID }}
```

### GCP

Use [google-github-actions/auth](https://github.com/google-github-actions/auth) with Workload Identity Federation (recommended):

```yaml
permissions:
  id-token: write
  contents: read

steps:
  - uses: google-github-actions/auth@v2
    with:
      workload_identity_provider: projects/123456/locations/global/workloadIdentityPools/my-pool/providers/my-provider
      service_account: prowler@my-project.iam.gserviceaccount.com

  - uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
    with:
      provider: gcp
      extra-env: GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS CLOUDSDK_AUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT
```

### Cloudflare

Create a Cloudflare API Token with `Zone:Read`, `Zone Settings:Read`, and `DNS:Read` permissions ([provider auth docs](/user-guide/providers/cloudflare/authentication)). Then:

```yaml
- uses: prowler-cloud/prowler@5.25
  with:
    provider: cloudflare
    extra-env: CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN
  env:
    CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN }}
```

## Outputs

Scan results are written to `output/` in the workspace and uploaded as artifacts named `prowler-<provider>` with 30-day retention.

When `upload-sarif` is enabled, SARIF results are also uploaded to GitHub Code Scanning and appear on the repository's **Security → Code scanning** tab, filtered by the branch that ran the scan.

### Step summary

The action writes a summary to the run page with a per-severity breakdown of failing checks, artifact and Code Scanning links, and (when `push-to-cloud: false`) a pointer to [Prowler Cloud](https://cloud.prowler.com) for continuous monitoring.

<img src="/images/github-action/scan-summary.png" alt="GitHub Actions run page showing the Prowler IaC Scan Summary with failing and passing counts, severity breakdown, scan log link, artifact link, and GitHub Code Security link" width="1400" />
