CVE-2013-4489 in GitLab
Summary
by MITRE
The Grit gem for Ruby, as used in GitLab 5.2 before 5.4.1 and 6.x before 6.2.3, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands, as demonstrated by the search box for the GitLab code search feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4489 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Grit gem, a core component of GitLab's code search functionality. This vulnerability affects GitLab versions 5.2 through 5.4.0 and 6.0 through 6.2.2, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the search interface. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed within the application's context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically targets the code search feature, which processes user queries without adequate input validation or sanitization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data within the GitLab code search functionality. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the Grit gem processes these inputs directly without proper sanitization or escaping of special characters that could be interpreted as command sequences. This allows attackers to craft malicious search terms containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks that get executed as system commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, leveraging the trust relationship between the authenticated user and the application to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code on the server hosting GitLab.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4489 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain full control over the affected GitLab server. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to source code repositories, data exfiltration, privilege escalation to system administrators, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's authenticated nature means that attackers must first establish valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly mitigate the risk given that GitLab instances often host sensitive code repositories and development environments. Organizations using affected GitLab versions face significant exposure to supply chain attacks, as compromised repositories could contain malicious code that propagates to downstream systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate version updates and input validation improvements. Organizations should upgrade to GitLab 5.4.1 or 6.2.3, which contain patches addressing the command injection flaw in the Grit gem. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization mechanisms and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the search functionality would provide defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution and insecure direct object reference patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), highlighting the attack chain from initial access through command execution and potential privilege escalation.