CVE-2020-6832 in Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GitLab Enterprise Edition (EE) 8.9.0 through 12.6.1. Using the project import feature, it was possible for someone to obtain issues from private projects.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6832 represents a critical access control flaw in GitLab Enterprise Edition affecting versions 8.9.0 through 12.6.1. This issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the project import functionality, creating a privilege escalation vector that allows unauthorized users to access sensitive information from private projects. The flaw specifically impacts the project import feature which is designed to facilitate the transfer of project data between instances, but fails to properly validate user permissions during the import process. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization as classified by CWE-285, which directly relates to the improper enforcement of access controls. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure, as the flaw enables attackers to potentially gain access to confidential project data including issues, code, and other sensitive artifacts that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the project import mechanism where an attacker with access to the import functionality can manipulate the import process to retrieve issues from private projects that they should not have access to. This typically involves initiating an import operation from a source project that contains private issues, and the system fails to properly filter or validate the access permissions during this process. The flaw exists because the import feature does not adequately verify that the importing user has the necessary permissions to access all the data being imported, particularly issues that are restricted to specific user groups or roles. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where GitLab instances host numerous private projects containing sensitive business information, intellectual property, and confidential data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6832 extends far beyond the immediate disclosure of private project issues, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of GitLab Enterprise Edition. Organizations using affected versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, compliance violations, and exposure of sensitive intellectual property. The vulnerability can be exploited by users with minimal privileges who can leverage the import functionality to gain access to data they should not be able to view, effectively bypassing the access control mechanisms that protect private projects. This flaw particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on GitLab for version control and collaboration, where the exposure of private project issues could lead to competitive disadvantages, regulatory penalties, and damage to reputation. The impact is further amplified because the vulnerability affects multiple major versions of GitLab EE, meaning that organizations across a wide range of releases were potentially exposed to this risk.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to GitLab versions that have addressed this vulnerability, specifically versions 12.7.0 and later which contain the necessary security patches. The recommended approach involves applying the official security updates provided by GitLab to ensure that proper access controls are enforced during project import operations. Additionally, administrators should review and audit existing project permissions to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred prior to patching. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring import activities and implementing additional access controls for users who have the ability to perform project imports. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to leverage existing legitimate import functionality to gain unauthorized access to private data. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and monitoring to detect anomalous import activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate import functionality while properly enforcing access controls.