CVE-2018-20229 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.3.14, 11.4.x before 11.4.12, and 11.5.x before 11.5.5 allow Directory Traversal.

Understanding CVE-2018-20229

Directory Traversal vulnerability in GitLab versions prior to specified releases.

What is CVE-2018-20229?

Directory Traversal is permitted in earlier versions of GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive files.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20229

This vulnerability could allow attackers to view, modify, or delete arbitrary files on the server, compromising data confidentiality and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20229

Directory Traversal vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

GitLab versions before 11.3.14, 11.4.x before 11.4.12, and 11.5.x before 11.5.5 are susceptible to Directory Traversal attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.3.14
GitLab 11.4.x before 11.4.12
GitLab 11.5.x before 11.5.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating file paths to access files outside the intended directory structure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20229.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to versions 11.3.14, 11.4.12, or 11.5.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement access controls to restrict file system access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file access permissions.
Educate users on secure file handling practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure systems are protected from known vulnerabilities.