CVE-2018-20498 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-20498, a vulnerability in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before specific versions, leading to incorrect access control. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures.
A problem has been detected in prior versions of GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition (before 11.4.13, 11.5.x before 11.5.6, and 11.6.x before 11.6.1) which involves an incorrect access control.
Understanding CVE-2018-20498
This CVE involves an issue in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions before specific releases, leading to incorrect access control.
What is CVE-2018-20498?
CVE-2018-20498 is a vulnerability found in earlier versions of GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition, allowing incorrect access control.
The Impact of CVE-2018-20498
The vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionalities within affected GitLab instances.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-20498
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue in GitLab versions before 11.4.13, 11.5.x before 11.5.6, and 11.6.x before 11.6.1 involves incorrect access control mechanisms.
Affected Systems and Versions
- GitLab Community Edition before 11.4.13
- GitLab Enterprise Edition before 11.4.13
- GitLab Community Edition 11.5.x before 11.5.6
- GitLab Enterprise Edition 11.5.x before 11.5.6
- GitLab Community Edition 11.6.x before 11.6.1
- GitLab Enterprise Edition 11.6.x before 11.6.1
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionalities within the affected GitLab instances.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20498 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition to versions 11.4.13, 11.5.6, or 11.6.1 or newer.
- Monitor and restrict access to sensitive data and functionalities.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch GitLab instances to the latest versions.
- Implement strong access control measures and user permissions.
- Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely application of security patches and updates provided by GitLab to address CVE-2018-20498.