CVE-2026-6336 in GitLab
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2026
GitLab has remediated an issue in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 16.6 before 19.0.5, 19.1 before 19.1.3, and 19.2 before 19.2.1 that under certain conditions could have allowed an unauthorized user to view project import source information due to a missing authorization check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in GitLab's project import functionality that affected multiple version streams including 16.6 through 19.0.4, 19.1 through 19.1.2, and 19.2 through 19.2.0. The issue stems from a missing authorization check during the project import process where unauthorized users could potentially access sensitive source information from project imports. This weakness aligns with CWE-863, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" vulnerabilities where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested action. The vulnerability exists within GitLab's access control mechanisms during import operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when GitLab processes project imports and fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses adequate permissions to view the source information associated with the import operation. This authorization gap allows users who should not have access to project import details to potentially retrieve sensitive metadata or configuration information from the import source. The issue manifests during the import workflow where the system should verify user credentials against project access controls but instead permits access based on incomplete authorization validation. This type of vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1566 which addresses Phishing, as attackers could leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about project configurations and potentially identify additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for reconnaissance activities that could lead to more sophisticated attacks. An attacker exploiting this flaw could gain insights into project dependencies, source code structure, and import configurations that might reveal other system weaknesses or provide clues for further exploitation. The vulnerability affects GitLab CE/EE installations across multiple version branches, requiring organizations to urgently apply patches to prevent unauthorized access to project import information. System administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring around import operations and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected GitLab versions to remediate this authorization bypass vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from GitLab as specified in their security advisory releases for versions 19.0.5, 19.1.3, and 19.2.1. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation around GitLab installations, enabling detailed audit logging for import operations, and conducting regular access control reviews to ensure proper user permissions are maintained. Security teams should also monitor for unusual import activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around unauthorized access to project source information. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust authorization controls throughout all system components, especially during data processing workflows where sensitive information may be exposed.