CVE-2019-6792 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.5.8, 11.6.x before 11.6.6, and 11.7.x before 11.7.1. It allows Path Disclosure. When an error is encountered on project import, the error message will display instance internal information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6792 represents a path disclosure issue affecting GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to specific patch releases. This security flaw manifests when the system encounters errors during project import operations, where error messages inadvertently expose internal system paths and directory structures to unauthorized users. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-209 category of "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 for "Exploitation for Defense Evasion" as attackers can leverage this information for further reconnaissance activities. The disclosure occurs in the context of project import functionality, which is a core administrative operation within GitLab's platform, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on the platform for version control and collaboration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the project import mechanism. When GitLab encounters issues during the import process, such as missing dependencies, permission errors, or file system access problems, the system generates error messages that contain full file paths and internal directory structures. These paths typically include the server's root directory, application installation paths, and potentially sensitive configuration locations. The flaw exists because the application does not sanitize error outputs before displaying them to users, allowing attackers to extract information about the underlying file system structure, server configuration, and potentially even the operating system environment. This information can be invaluable for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks, as it provides insights into the system's architecture and potential attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-6792 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more targeted attacks. An attacker who can access these error messages gains knowledge about the server's file system layout, which may reveal the presence of sensitive directories, backup locations, or configuration files that could contain credentials or other sensitive information. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that use GitLab for managing sensitive code repositories, as the path disclosure could expose internal organizational structures and potentially reveal the presence of development environments or staging systems. The impact is amplified in environments where GitLab is integrated with other systems, as the disclosed paths may provide insights into broader infrastructure layouts and inter-system dependencies.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of GitLab where CVE-2019-6792 has been resolved. The affected versions 11.5.8, 11.6.6, and 11.7.1 contain fixes that properly sanitize error messages and prevent path disclosure during project import operations. Additionally, administrators should review and harden error handling configurations within GitLab to ensure that no sensitive information is exposed through error messages, regardless of the specific version. The implementation of proper logging mechanisms and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual error message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit who can perform project imports, as this reduces the attack surface for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar path disclosure issues within their GitLab installations and other web applications to maintain comprehensive security posture.