GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Improper Access Control
CVE-2023-7028 is a critical-severity weak password recovery mechanism for forgotten password vulnerability in GitLab, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 16.1.6, 16.2.9, 16.3.7 as the first without the flaw, so updating GitLab to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on May 1, 2024, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update GitLab to 16.1.6 or 16.2.9 or 16.3.7 or 16.4.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Read the advisory on gitlab.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitLab | GitLab | 16.1 up to, but not including, 16.1.6; 16.2 up to, but not including, 16.2.9; 16.3 up to, but not including, 16.3.7; 16.4 up to, but not including, 16.4.5; 16.5 up to, but not including, 16.5.6; 16.6 up to, but not including, 16.6.4; 16.7 up to, but not including, 16.7.2 | 16.1.6, 16.2.9, 16.3.7, 16.4.5, 16.5.6, 16.6.4 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 10.0 | Critical | CNA (gitlab.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 16.1 prior to 16.1.6, 16.2 prior to 16.2.9, 16.3 prior to 16.3.7, 16.4 prior to 16.4.5, 16.5 prior to 16.5.6, 16.6 prior to 16.6.4, and 16.7 prior to 16.7.2 in which user account password reset emails could be delivered to an unverified email address.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password
The product contains a mechanism for users to recover or change their passwords without knowing the original password, but the mechanism is weak.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Make sure that all input supplied by the user to the password recovery mechanism is thoroughly filtered and validated.
- Do not use standard weak security questions and use several security questions.
- Make sure that there is throttling on the number of incorrect answers to a security question. Disable the password recovery functionality after a certain (small) number of incorrect guesses.
More Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password vulnerabilities (CWE-640)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/436084Exploit, Issue Tracking
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-7028US Government Resource
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/critical-gitlab-account-takeover-vulnerability-cve-2023-7028Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other references
- hackerone.com/reports/2293343Permissions Required
Other vulnerabilities in GitLab
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.3 High severity
Recent Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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