CVE-2025-7734 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2025
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 14.2 before 18.0.6, 18.1 before 18.1.4 and 18.2 before 18.2.2 that, under certain conditions, could have allowed a successful attacker to execute actions on behalf of users by injecting malicious content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
CVE-2025-7734 represents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability within GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition platforms that has persisted across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious content injected into user-controlled parameters. The flaw exists in the authentication and authorization subsystem where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being processed, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate system behavior through crafted inputs. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as a weakness involving improper input validation, which directly enables unauthorized access and privilege escalation scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers can inject malicious payloads into parameters that are subsequently processed by GitLab's backend systems. This injection typically occurs through web interface inputs, API endpoints, or file upload mechanisms where the application fails to properly validate or escape user-provided content. The attack vector leverages the principle of least privilege violation, allowing malicious actors to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only. This includes but is not limited to accessing sensitive repositories, modifying project configurations, creating or deleting user accounts, and executing administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-7734 extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of GitLab instances. Organizations utilizing affected versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized code modifications, and complete compromise of their source code repositories. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple version ranges from 14.2 through 18.2.1 indicates a systemic issue within GitLab's input handling mechanisms that affects a substantial portion of their user base. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, conduct reconnaissance activities, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over GitLab instances. This vulnerability directly maps to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it enables attackers to operate with elevated privileges through legitimate user sessions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches to versions 18.0.6, 18.1.4, and 18.2.2 where available. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous API activity and unusual user behavior patterns. Input validation should be strengthened at all application entry points, with particular attention to user-supplied parameters that are processed without proper sanitization. Access controls should be reviewed and enforced through multi-factor authentication mechanisms where possible. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the GitLab environment and associated systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in maintaining system security, as highlighted by security standards such as NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements for secure application development practices.