CVE-2018-19493 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been found in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 11.x before 11.3.11, 11.4.x before 11.4.8, and 11.5.x before 11.5.1, affecting the environment pages due to a persistent XSS vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2018-19493

This CVE identifies a persistent XSS vulnerability in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to specific releases.

What is CVE-2018-19493?

The vulnerability in GitLab allows for persistent cross-site scripting due to inadequate input validation and output encoding on environment pages.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19493

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to inject malicious scripts into the environment pages, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19493

GitLab's vulnerability exposes affected systems to persistent XSS attacks due to inadequate input validation and output encoding.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a lack of proper input validation and output encoding on the environment pages in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 11.x before 11.3.11, 11.4.x before 11.4.8, and 11.5.x before 11.5.1.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 11.x before 11.3.11
GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 11.4.x before 11.4.8
GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 11.5.x before 11.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the environment pages, potentially leading to cross-site scripting attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-19493.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition to versions 11.3.11, 11.4.8, or 11.5.1, which contain fixes for the vulnerability.
Monitor environment pages for any suspicious activities or unexpected script executions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output encoding practices in web applications to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Regularly update and patch software to mitigate potential security risks.
Educate developers and users on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by GitLab to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.