CVE-2019-9222 in Community
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.6.10, 11.7.x before 11.7.6, and 11.8.x before 11.8.1. It has Insecure Permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9222 represents a critical insecure permissions flaw affecting GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the GitLab platform that allow unauthorized users to bypass intended security restrictions. The vulnerability manifests in scenarios where users with limited privileges can potentially access resources or perform actions beyond their designated permissions, creating a significant risk to organizational security posture.
This insecure permissions vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, which specifically addresses weaknesses in authorization mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources. The flaw enables attackers to escalate privileges or gain access to sensitive data through malformed requests or exploitation of the permission system. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams including 11.6.10, 11.7.6, and 11.8.1, indicating a widespread issue across the GitLab platform that required immediate patching across all affected releases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate project configurations, access confidential code repositories, and potentially compromise the entire GitLab instance. In enterprise environments where GitLab serves as a central code management platform, this vulnerability creates opportunities for data exfiltration, code tampering, and disruption of development workflows. The vulnerability can be exploited by both internal users with limited access and external attackers who gain initial foothold through other means, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation through patching affected GitLab installations to version 11.6.10, 11.7.6, or 11.8.1 respectively, depending on the current installation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive access control reviews and audit existing user permissions to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1484 for Domain Policy Modification, as it enables unauthorized privilege escalation and system compromise through compromised access controls. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation, monitoring for anomalous access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of GitLab configurations to ensure proper implementation of access control policies and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.