CVE-2018-18643 : Security Advisory and Response

Persistent XSS vulnerabilities have been identified in versions of GitLab CE & EE starting from 11.2 and earlier than 11.5.0-rc12, 11.4.6, and 11.3.10.

Understanding CVE-2018-18643

Persistent XSS vulnerabilities in GitLab CE & EE versions.

What is CVE-2018-18643?

This CVE identifies Persistent XSS vulnerabilities in GitLab CE & EE versions 11.2 and earlier than 11.5.0-rc12, 11.4.6, and 11.3.10.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18643

Attackers can execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session on affected GitLab instances.
Sensitive data may be compromised, leading to account takeover or unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18643

Persistent XSS vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

GitLab CE & EE versions 11.2 and earlier are susceptible to Persistent XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab CE & EE versions starting from 11.2 and earlier than 11.5.0-rc12, 11.4.6, and 11.3.10.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into GitLab instances, potentially compromising user sessions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade affected GitLab CE & EE instances to versions beyond 11.5.0-rc12, 11.4.6, and 11.3.10.
Implement strict input validation to prevent script injection.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit GitLab instances for suspicious activities.
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the risks of executing untrusted scripts.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from GitLab and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities.