CVE-2018-20490 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been found in versions 11.2.x through 11.4.x (prior to 11.4.13), 11.5.x (prior to 11.5.6), and 11.6.x (prior to 11.6.1) of both GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition. This vulnerability enables cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Understanding CVE-2018-20490

This CVE identifies a security issue in GitLab versions that could lead to XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2018-20490?

CVE-2018-20490 is a vulnerability present in multiple versions of GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition, allowing attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20490

The vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and manipulation of content on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20490

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue exists in GitLab versions 11.2.x through 11.6.x before specific patch releases, enabling XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions 11.2.x through 11.4.x (before 11.4.13)
Versions 11.5.x (before 11.5.6)
Versions 11.6.x (before 11.6.1)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject and execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially compromising sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20490 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to the patched versions (11.4.13, 11.5.6, 11.6.1) to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user input to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest secure versions.
Implement security controls to sanitize user inputs and prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by GitLab promptly to address known vulnerabilities.