CVE-2019-14943 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition 12.0 through 12.1.4. It uses Hard-coded Credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-14943 represents a critical security flaw in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 12.0 through 12.1.4 that stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the software's codebase. This issue manifests as the presence of hard-coded credentials that are embedded directly into the application's source code or configuration files, creating a persistent security risk that affects the entire installation. The flaw falls under the category of weak credential management and improper credential handling, which are classified as CWE-259 and CWE-798 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. These hard-coded credentials typically include administrative passwords, API keys, or service account credentials that are intended to provide access to critical system components or external services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of static, unchanging credentials within the GitLab application codebase or configuration files that are distributed with the software. These credentials are often set during the initial installation or configuration process and are not properly secured or rotated. Attackers who gain access to the system can extract these hard-coded credentials through various means including code analysis, reverse engineering, or by examining configuration files that have not been properly secured. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous because these credentials are typically designed to provide elevated privileges and access to core system functionalities, database connections, or integration points with external services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise, data breaches, and complete control over affected GitLab installations. When attackers successfully exploit hard-coded credentials, they can gain administrative access to the GitLab instance, allowing them to modify or delete repositories, manipulate user accounts, access sensitive code repositories, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains, where attackers can leverage hardcoded credentials to establish persistent access and maintain control over the compromised environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address the immediate threat and prevent future occurrences. The primary remediation involves updating to GitLab versions 12.1.5 or later, where the hard-coded credentials have been removed or properly managed. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their configuration files to identify any remaining hardcoded credentials that may have been overlooked during the initial deployment. Security measures should include implementing proper credential management practices such as using environment variables, secure configuration management tools, and rotating credentials regularly. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect hard-coded credentials in their code repositories and configuration files, as well as establishing security policies that prohibit the use of hardcoded credentials in production environments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper credential handling and the potential consequences of failing to implement secure configuration management practices in enterprise software deployments.