CVE-2019-11547 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability has been found in versions before GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition 11.8.9, 11.9.x before 11.9.10, and 11.10.x before 11.10.2. This vulnerability involves improper encoding or escaping of output, specifically related to new merge request notification emails.

Understanding CVE-2019-11547

This CVE identifies a security issue in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to specific releases, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

What is CVE-2019-11547?

This vulnerability arises from the improper escaping of branch names in new merge request notification emails, creating a risk for XSS attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11547

The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to execute XSS attacks by manipulating branch names in merge request notification emails.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11547

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions before 11.8.9, 11.9.x before 11.9.10, and 11.10.x before 11.10.2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue involves improper encoding or escaping of output, particularly in the handling of branch names in new merge request notification emails.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.8.9
GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition 11.9.x before 11.9.10
GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition 11.10.x before 11.10.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting malicious branch names in new merge request notification emails to execute XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition to versions 11.8.9, 11.9.10, or 11.10.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Educate users on identifying and avoiding suspicious emails that may contain malicious branch names.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.
Implement security training for employees to recognize and report potential security threats.
Utilize web application firewalls and security scanning tools to detect and prevent XSS attacks.
Follow secure coding practices to minimize the risk of XSS vulnerabilities.
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from GitLab.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by GitLab to address known vulnerabilities.