CVE-2019-10116 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability related to permissions in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to 11.7.8, 11.8.x before 11.8.4, and 11.9.x before 11.9.2 allowed project guests to view Related Branches associated with an issue.

Understanding CVE-2019-10116

This CVE relates to an insecure permissions issue in GitLab versions before the specified updates.

What is CVE-2019-10116?

This vulnerability allowed unauthorized project guests to access Related Branches linked to specific issues within GitLab.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10116

Unauthorized users could view sensitive information related to project branches, potentially compromising project confidentiality and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10116

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stemmed from inadequate permission controls, enabling unauthorized access to Related Branches within GitLab projects.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions before 11.7.8
GitLab 11.8.x before 11.8.4
GitLab 11.9.x before 11.9.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized project guests could exploit this vulnerability to view Related Branches associated with specific issues, potentially accessing sensitive project information.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent such vulnerabilities.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to versions 11.7.8, 11.8.4, or 11.9.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and adjust project permissions to restrict unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update permission settings within GitLab to ensure data security.
Educate users on proper access control and permissions management practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by GitLab.
Promptly apply patches and updates to maintain a secure environment.