CVE-2019-15583 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been discovered in GitLab Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE) versions prior to 12.3.2, 12.2.6, and 12.1.12. This vulnerability exposes confidential labels and project namespace information when transferring an issue from a private project to a public one through the GitLab API.

Understanding CVE-2019-15583

This CVE identifies an information disclosure vulnerability in GitLab versions before 12.3.2, 12.2.6, and 12.1.12.

What is CVE-2019-15583?

This CVE pertains to an information disclosure vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE that leaks confidential labels and project namespace information when moving an issue from a private project to a public one.

The Impact of CVE-2019-15583

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to access sensitive information, potentially leading to data breaches and privacy violations.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-15583

GitLab CE/EE versions before 12.3.2, 12.2.6, and 12.1.12 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when transferring an issue from a private project to a public one, exposing confidential labels and project namespace information through the GitLab API.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GitLab CE/EE
Vendor: GitLab
Vulnerable Versions:
Before 12.3.2
Before 12.2.6
Before 12.1.12

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability by moving issues between projects, triggering the exposure of confidential information.

Mitigation and Prevention

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

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab CE/EE to version 12.3.2 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and restrict access permissions to sensitive information within GitLab.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit API activities within GitLab to detect any unauthorized access.
Educate users on the importance of data privacy and security practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed and mitigated effectively.