CVE-2019-14942 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions allowed the transmission of sensitive cookies over unencrypted HTTP.

Understanding CVE-2019-14942

This CVE identifies a security issue in GitLab versions prior to 11.11.8, 12.0.6, and 12.1.6, where access-controlled cookies could be exposed over unencrypted channels.

What is CVE-2019-14942?

The vulnerability in GitLab allowed for the unencrypted transmission of cookies that should have been protected, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14942

The exposure of access-controlled cookies over unencrypted HTTP could result in unauthorized parties intercepting and accessing sensitive data, compromising user privacy and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14942

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allowed GitLab Pages cookies with access control to be transmitted over unencrypted HTTP, exposing them to potential interception.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions prior to 11.11.8
GitLab versions 12 before 12.0.6
GitLab versions 12.1 before 12.1.6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could intercept unencrypted HTTP traffic containing GitLab Pages cookies, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab to version 11.11.8, 12.0.6, or 12.1.6 to mitigate the vulnerability
Avoid transmitting sensitive data over unencrypted channels

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement HTTPS to encrypt data transmission
Regularly monitor and update security configurations

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by GitLab to address the vulnerability