CVE-2019-5472 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in GitLab versions before 12.1.2, 12.0.4, and 11.11.6 allowed owners and maintainers to delete epic comments.

Understanding CVE-2019-5472

A flaw in the authorization system of GitLab versions prior to 12.1.2, 12.0.4, and 11.11.6 prevented certain users from removing comments on epics.

What is CVE-2019-5472?

This CVE identifies an authorization issue in GitLab versions before 12.1.2, 12.0.4, and 11.11.6 that impacted the ability of owners and maintainers to delete epic comments.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5472

Owners and maintainers were unable to remove comments on epics due to the flaw in the authorization system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5472

A denial of service vulnerability was identified in GitLab:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GitLab versions before 12.1.2, 12.0.4, and 11.11.6 prevented specific user roles from deleting epic comments.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GitLab
Vendor: GitLab
Versions Affected: before 12.1.2, before 12.0.4, before 11.11.6

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw allowed unauthorized users to retain comments on epics, impacting the ability of owners and maintainers to manage comments effectively.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address the vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab to version 12.1.2 or later to mitigate the authorization issue.
Review and remove any unauthorized comments manually.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update GitLab to the latest versions to ensure security patches are applied.
Conduct security audits to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by GitLab to address security vulnerabilities and improve system security.