CVE-2022-0125 in GitLab
Summary
by MITRE • 01/18/2022
An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions starting from 12.0 before 14.4.5, all versions starting from 14.5.0 before 14.5.3, all versions starting from 14.6.0 before 14.6.2. GitLab was not verifying that a maintainer of a project had the right access to import members from a target project.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0125 represents a critical access control flaw within GitLab's project member management system that has persisted across multiple version ranges from 12.0 through 14.6.1. This issue stems from inadequate verification mechanisms that fail to properly authenticate maintainer privileges when attempting to import members from one project to another, creating a significant security gap in GitLab's permission model. The flaw specifically targets the project import functionality where users with maintainer roles could potentially bypass access controls and import members from projects they should not have access to, fundamentally undermining the principle of least privilege that governs software access control systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within GitLab's authorization framework where the system fails to validate whether a maintainer possesses the appropriate permissions to import members from a target project. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization scenarios in software systems, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation. The vulnerability exists in the member import functionality where the system should verify that the requesting maintainer has explicit permission to both view and import members from the source project, yet this verification step is omitted or improperly implemented. This allows malicious actors or unauthorized maintainers to exploit the system by importing members from projects they shouldn't be able to access, potentially gaining insight into restricted project information or even escalating their privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0125 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive project data. When a maintainer can import members from projects they shouldn't have access to, they may gain access to confidential project information, member lists, or even be able to add themselves or others to restricted projects. This vulnerability directly impacts GitLab's security posture by weakening the isolation between projects and potentially allowing lateral movement within an organization's GitLab environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates through legitimate system functionality, making it harder to detect and monitor compared to more obvious exploitation methods.
Organizations using affected GitLab versions should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant security patches to versions 14.4.5, 14.5.3, and 14.6.2, which contain the necessary fixes for this access control issue. The remediation process should also include reviewing existing project member configurations and access controls to ensure that maintainers have appropriate permissions and that no unauthorized imports have occurred. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions that track member import activities and alert on suspicious access patterns, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for privilege escalation and credential access. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of project permissions and member access rights to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before the patch was applied, particularly focusing on member import activities that occurred during the vulnerable time period.