CVE-2018-16049 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 Sensitive Data Disclosure in Sidekiq Logs through an Error Message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16049 represents a critical sensitive data disclosure issue within GitLab's Sidekiq logging mechanism. This flaw exists in multiple versions of GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition, specifically affecting releases before 11.0.6, 11.1.5, and 11.2.2 respectively. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of error messages within Sidekiq's logging infrastructure, which inadvertently exposes sensitive information to unauthorized parties through log files. Sidekiq serves as GitLab's background job processing system, handling various automated tasks including CI/CD pipeline execution, email notifications, and system maintenance operations. When errors occur during job processing, the system generates error messages that contain diagnostic information, but in this case, the logging mechanism fails to properly sanitize or filter sensitive data before inclusion in error reports.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper inclusion of environment variables, configuration parameters, and potentially user credentials within Sidekiq error logs. When Sidekiq processes background jobs and encounters failures, it typically logs error information to help developers diagnose issues. However, this particular flaw allows sensitive data to leak into these logs without proper sanitization, creating a pathway for attackers to extract confidential information from system logs. The vulnerability manifests when Sidekiq jobs fail during execution, particularly those involving authentication, database connections, or external service integrations where sensitive parameters might be present in the error context. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and output sanitization, aligning with CWE-20 Open Directory Traversal and CWE-200 Information Exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and sensitive information. If an attacker gains access to GitLab's log files, they could extract database credentials, API keys, encryption keys, or other confidential information that might be present in the error messages. This exposure could facilitate further attacks including database compromise, service hijacking, or lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where GitLab is used for continuous integration and deployment operations, as these systems often handle production credentials and sensitive business data. The exposure of such information through log files violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and data protection, potentially leading to significant financial and reputational damage for affected organizations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of GitLab where this vulnerability has been resolved. The recommended approach involves applying the security patches released by GitLab for versions 11.0.6, 11.1.5, and 11.2.2 respectively, which contain proper sanitization of error messages in Sidekiq logs. Additionally, system administrators should review and implement log file access controls to limit who can read system logs, implementing principle of least privilege for log file access. Security monitoring should include regular log file audits to detect any unusual patterns or unauthorized access attempts to sensitive information. Organizations should also consider implementing log file encryption and centralized logging solutions with proper access controls. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 Indicator Removal on Host, as the sensitive data exposure could be used to cover tracks or facilitate further attacks. Furthermore, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling and logging practices as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-144, which emphasizes the need for secure error handling to prevent information leakage. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect such vulnerabilities in their GitLab installations and other software environments.