CVE-2012-4506 in gitolite
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in gitolite 3.x before 3.1, when wild card repositories and a pattern matching "../" are enabled, allows remote authenticated users to create arbitrary repositories and possibly perform other actions via a .. (dot dot) in a repository name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2021
The CVE-2012-4506 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in gitolite version 3.x prior to 3.1, specifically affecting systems that utilize wildcard repository patterns and pattern matching with "../" sequences. This vulnerability resides within the repository name validation mechanism of gitolite, which is widely deployed as a centralized access control system for git repositories in enterprise environments. The flaw stems from insufficient input sanitization during repository creation operations, allowing authenticated attackers to exploit path traversal techniques through carefully crafted repository names that contain dot-dot sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when gitolite processes repository names that contain "../" patterns within wildcard repository configurations. During the repository creation workflow, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these path traversal sequences, enabling attackers to manipulate the intended repository location. This occurs because the underlying file system operations do not adequately filter or resolve these sequences before performing directory operations, creating an opportunity for attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy beyond the intended repository boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where administrators have enabled wildcard repository matching features, which are commonly used to simplify repository management for large teams or organizations with complex repository structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple repository creation, potentially enabling attackers to perform arbitrary file system operations within the gitolite environment. An authenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to create repositories in unintended locations, potentially gaining access to sensitive system directories or creating malicious repositories that could compromise the integrity of the entire gitolite installation. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that only users with valid credentials can exploit this flaw, but this limitation does not significantly reduce the risk given that many organizations maintain relatively permissive access controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting if attackers can escalate privileges through other means.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to gitolite version 3.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Administrators should also review and restrict wildcard repository configurations to minimize the attack surface, particularly avoiding patterns that allow "../" sequences in repository names. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to gitolite servers, enforcing strict access controls, and monitoring repository creation activities for suspicious patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in access control systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication and authorization mechanisms. Organizations using gitolite should conduct thorough audits of their repository configurations to identify and disable problematic wildcard patterns, while also implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other systems within the organization's infrastructure.