CVE-2019-16170 in Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Enterprise Edition 11.x and 12.x before 12.0.9, 12.1.x before 12.1.9, and 12.2.x before 12.2.5. It has Incorrect Access Control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in GitLab Enterprise Edition that affected multiple version streams including 11.x, 12.0.x, 12.1.x, and 12.2.x prior to specific patch releases. The issue stems from inadequate authorization checks that allow unauthorized users to access protected resources within the GitLab platform. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, which specifically addresses scenarios where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass intended security boundaries and potentially gain access to sensitive project data, repository contents, and administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this access control flaw manifests when GitLab fails to properly validate user permissions during various operations within the platform. This could include accessing private repositories, viewing project settings, or performing administrative tasks without proper authentication and authorization verification. The flaw exists in the authorization logic that governs user access to different levels of GitLab functionality, allowing malicious actors to exploit this gap in the security model. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or access confidential information from projects they should not have authorization to view, undermining the fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a significant risk to enterprise security posture and compliance requirements. Organizations relying on GitLab for version control and collaboration may experience unauthorized access to source code repositories, sensitive configuration files, and other intellectual property assets. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of development environments, potentially leading to code tampering, data leakage, or disruption of development workflows. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprises that use GitLab for managing proprietary software projects, as it could enable competitors or malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to critical development assets. This flaw also creates potential for privilege escalation attacks that could allow attackers to move laterally within the GitLab instance and access additional resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of the vendor-provided patches, specifically updating to GitLab versions 12.0.9, 12.1.9, or 12.2.5 and later. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and logging of access patterns to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive access control reviews and validate that proper authorization checks are functioning correctly across all GitLab components. The remediation process should include verification that users cannot access resources beyond their assigned permissions and that proper authentication mechanisms are enforced throughout the platform. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and additional security monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper access control implementation in enterprise software environments, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as unauthorized access could lead to further compromise opportunities within the development infrastructure.