CVE-2020-10084 in Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE
GitLab EE 11.6 through 12.8.1 allows Information Disclosure. Sending a specially crafted request to the vulnerability_feedback endpoint could result in the exposure of a private project namespace
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10084 affects GitLab Enterprise Edition versions ranging from 11.6 through 12.8.1, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that compromises the confidentiality of private project namespaces. This vulnerability resides within the vulnerability_feedback endpoint of the GitLab application, which serves as a mechanism for reporting security issues and managing vulnerability-related communications. The flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive project information through specifically crafted HTTP requests that exploit improper access controls and authorization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization checks within the vulnerability_feedback endpoint. When a malicious actor sends a crafted request to this endpoint, the application fails to properly verify the requester's permissions before exposing project namespace information. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization control where the system assumes that legitimate requests are properly authenticated and authorized, without performing adequate verification of access rights. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and specifically demonstrates how weak access controls can lead to unauthorized information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of GitLab Enterprise Edition deployments. Private project namespaces contain sensitive information including code repositories, project configurations, user access controls, and potentially confidential business data. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can gain visibility into private project structures and potentially access project contents that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This exposure creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on GitLab for code management and collaboration, as it effectively bypasses the core security controls that protect private repositories from unauthorized access.
Organizations utilizing affected GitLab versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to GitLab version 12.8.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to resolve the authorization flaw in the vulnerability_feedback endpoint. Additionally, system administrators should review and tighten access controls for the vulnerability_feedback endpoint, ensuring that only authorized personnel can submit requests to this functionality. Network-level protections such as firewalls and access control lists can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to restrict access to this specific endpoint. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar authorization flaws in other application components. Organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns to sensitive endpoints, as this vulnerability could potentially be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns targeting version control systems. The incident underscores the critical need for robust input validation and proper authorization mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data and providing administrative functionality.