CVE-2019-5486 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
A authentication bypass vulnerability exists in GitLab CE/EE <v12.3.2, <v12.2.6, and <v12.1.10 in the Salesforce login integration that could be used by an attacker to create an account that bypassed domain restrictions and email verification requirements.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-5486 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in GitLab's Salesforce login integration that affected multiple versions of the platform. This issue specifically targeted the authentication mechanisms used when integrating with Salesforce, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent security controls that should have prevented unauthorized account creation. The vulnerability existed in GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition across several version ranges, including versions prior to 12.3.2, 12.2.6, and 12.1.10, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on these platforms for their development and collaboration workflows.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication parameters during the Salesforce login process. When users attempted to authenticate through Salesforce integration, the system failed to properly verify the legitimacy of the authentication response, allowing attackers to manipulate the authentication flow. This flaw specifically impacted the domain restriction and email verification mechanisms that are typically enforced during user registration. The vulnerability exploited a weakness in the authentication pipeline where the system accepted forged authentication tokens or manipulated response data without sufficient validation checks. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authentication mechanisms under CWE-287, which deals with authentication bypass vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially allowed attackers to create accounts that would normally be rejected due to domain restrictions or email verification requirements, fundamentally undermining the platform's access control policies.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5486 was significant for organizations using GitLab with Salesforce integration, as it provided attackers with unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially sensitive development environments. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to create accounts with arbitrary email addresses and bypass domain restrictions that were typically enforced to ensure only authorized personnel could access the system. This created opportunities for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within organizational networks. The vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in environments where GitLab was used for managing source code repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and other critical development infrastructure. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts obtained through exploitation of remote services, as attackers could leverage the bypass to gain persistent access to the GitLab platform. The vulnerability also represents a potential vector for credential stuffing attacks, where attackers could use the bypass to create accounts with known credentials from other compromised systems.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of GitLab where the vulnerability has been addressed. The recommended approach involves applying the security patches released by GitLab for versions 12.3.2, 12.2.6, and 12.1.10 respectively, which contain fixes for the authentication bypass mechanism. Additionally, administrators should review and audit existing user accounts to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred during the vulnerability window. Security teams should implement enhanced monitoring of authentication events, particularly those related to Salesforce integration, to detect anomalous account creation patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of any compromised accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts and regular security audits of third-party integrations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication flow security, particularly in integrated systems where multiple authentication mechanisms interact, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of integration points.