GitHub Actions Validator — Workflow Syntax & CI/CD Security Audit
Validate GitHub Actions workflow YAML for syntax errors, missing required fields, deprecated commands, mutable action refs, outdated action versions, and broken job dependencies. Get per-job results with fix hints in real time.
How to Use GitHub Actions Validator — Workflow Syntax & CI/CD Security Audit
How to Use the GitHub Actions Workflow Validator
Step 1: Paste Your Workflow YAML
Copy your .github/workflows/*.yml file and paste it into the input area. Validation runs instantly as you type using js-yaml for parsing followed by schema checks.
Step 2: Review Workflow-Level Issues
The "Workflow" section shows issues at the top level of the file — missing on triggers, missing jobs, no permissions block, or unknown trigger event names.
Step 3: Review Per-Job Results
Each job in the workflow gets its own result card. The card header shows the job name and a compact issue count (e.g. 2e 1w 3i for 2 errors, 1 warning, 3 info). Click any issue row to expand a fix hint.
Step 4: Load an Example
Use the example buttons to see validation in action:
- Broken Workflow — missing
on, noruns-on, deprecated::set-output, step with no action - Outdated & Unsafe — mutable
@mainref, outdated actions, brokenneedsreference - Best-Practice — clean workflow with
permissions, pinned actions,timeout-minutes
Checks Performed
| Severity | Check | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Error | Missing on | Required trigger field absent |
| Error | Missing jobs | Required jobs section absent |
| Error | Missing runs-on | Job has no runner defined |
| Error | Missing steps | Job has no steps |
| Error | Step without uses or run | Step does nothing |
| Error | Step with both uses and run | Conflicting step fields |
| Error | Action with no @ pin | No version reference at all |
| Error | Action pinned to mutable branch | @main, @master, @HEAD etc. |
| Error | Broken needs reference | Depends on non-existent job |
| Error | Invalid cron expression | Wrong number of fields in schedule |
| Warning | Outdated action version | Old actions/checkout@v2 etc. |
| Warning | Floating major-version tag | @v1 may receive breaking updates |
| Warning | Deprecated ::set-output | Should use $GITHUB_OUTPUT |
| Warning | Deprecated ::save-state | Should use $GITHUB_STATE |
| Warning | Deprecated ::set-env | Should use $GITHUB_ENV |
| Warning | continue-on-error: true | Job failure will be hidden |
| Info | Unknown trigger event | Not a standard GHA event name |
| Info | Missing workflow name | Harder to navigate in Actions UI |
| Info | Missing job name | Job appears with its ID only |
| Info | No timeout-minutes | Job can run indefinitely |
| Info | No permissions | Default broad token permissions |
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