CVE-2023-4522 in GitLab
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2023
An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions before 16.2.0. Committing directories containing LF character results in 500 errors when viewing the commit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4522 represents a critical server-side error condition within GitLab's commit handling mechanism that affects all versions prior to 16.2.0. This flaw manifests when users attempt to commit directories containing line feed characters, which triggers an internal server error resulting in 500 HTTP status codes during commit viewing operations. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within GitLab's commit processing pipeline, creating a scenario where malformed directory structures containing line feed characters can cause the application to crash or fail to process the commit properly.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the intersection of input sanitization and exception handling within GitLab's core commit processing functionality. When a commit operation includes directories with line feed characters, the system fails to properly normalize or validate these special characters during the commit parsing phase. This leads to a cascade of errors that ultimately results in the 500 server error response, effectively rendering the commit view functionality inaccessible to users. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and lacks proper boundary checking for special characters in file and directory names, creating an avenue for service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4522 extends beyond simple functionality degradation, potentially enabling denial-of-service conditions that can affect collaborative development workflows within GitLab environments. Teams relying on GitLab for version control may experience complete disruption when attempting to view or audit commits containing problematic directory structures, leading to productivity losses and potential workflow interruptions. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations with automated deployment pipelines or continuous integration systems that may inadvertently create or process commits with line feed characters in directory names, creating a systemic risk across development teams.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-707, "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation." The flaw also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," as it can be leveraged to disrupt GitLab service availability. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching to version 16.2.0 or later, as the vulnerability does not require authentication to exploit and can be triggered through normal commit operations. Additionally, implementing input sanitization measures and regular security scanning of commit content can help identify and prevent similar issues in other applications within the development ecosystem.