CVE-2013-7316 in GitLab
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in GitLab 6.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted HTML file, as demonstrated by README.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The CVE-2013-7316 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in GitLab version 6.0 that fundamentally compromises the security of web applications hosted within the platform. This vulnerability specifically affects how GitLab processes and renders HTML content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts and HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests when GitLab fails to properly sanitize user-supplied HTML content, particularly in files such as README.html, which are commonly used to document projects and repositories within the platform's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within GitLab's rendering engine. When users upload or create HTML files containing malicious script tags or embedded JavaScript code, the platform does not sufficiently filter or escape these elements before displaying them to other users. This failure in security controls allows attackers to inject harmful payloads that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges within the GitLab environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7316 extends beyond simple script injection, creating a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that can leverage the platform's user trust model. An attacker could craft malicious README.html files containing phishing scripts, credential stealers, or malware distribution mechanisms that would execute when other users view these project documentation files. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations that rely heavily on GitLab for code collaboration, as the attack surface includes not only the repository content but also the broader user interaction within the platform's web interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in preventing such attacks.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of GitLab installations to versions that address the XSS flaw, combined with comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and establish regular security audits of uploaded content to identify potential malicious payloads. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for social engineering techniques, highlighting the need for both technical controls and user awareness training. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and automated scanning tools can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future, while ensuring that all user-generated content undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in the web interface to prevent exploitation of similar input validation weaknesses.