Token Permissions:
By explicitly specifying the repo-token: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} in the workflow, we are ensuring that the action uses a token that GitHub automatically generates for actions. This token should have permissions aligned with the GitHub repository's current policies. The update doesn’t necessarily change the permissions but clarifies which token is being used, ensuring there is no ambiguity that could lead to permissions errors.

Addressing Potential Configuration Issues: 
The change might not directly adjust permissions (since I don’t have access to the settings), but it ensures that the action is correctly configured according to the latest standards. If there was any misconfiguration leading to the HTTP 403 error, correcting the action version and ensuring the correct use of tokens might resolve these issues.