CVE-2018-16048 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.0.6, 11.1.x before 11.1.5, and 11.2.x before 11.2.2. There is Missing Authorization Control for API Repository Storage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16048 represents a critical authorization flaw within GitLab's API repository storage system affecting multiple versions of the platform. This issue stems from insufficient access controls that allow unauthorized users to manipulate repository storage through the application programming interface. The flaw exists in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition installations running versions prior to 11.0.6, 11.1.5, and 11.2.2 respectively, creating a significant security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to repository data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the API endpoint handling repository storage operations without proper authentication checks. When users make requests to modify or access repository storage through the API, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to perform these actions. This missing authorization control creates a path for privilege escalation where unauthorized users can potentially access, modify, or delete repository data that should be restricted to authorized personnel. The flaw specifically impacts repository storage operations rather than general user authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on GitLab's version control and collaboration features.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access issues and can lead to severe consequences for organizations relying on GitLab for their source code management and collaboration workflows. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive source code repositories, potentially exposing proprietary software, intellectual property, and confidential business information. The unauthorized modification or deletion of repository storage could result in data loss, service disruption, and compromise of the entire development environment. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage if their repositories are compromised through this authorization bypass.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to GitLab versions 11.0.6, 11.1.5, or 11.2.2 respectively to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit API exposure, particularly for repository storage endpoints. Monitoring and logging of API repository storage operations should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-862 which specifically addresses "Missing Authorization" and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566 for malicious file execution through unauthorized access to repository storage systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization gaps in other system components.