CVE-2019-7176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 8.x to 11.x allows guest users to add reaction emojis to comments they cannot see.

Understanding CVE-2019-7176

This CVE identifies an Incorrect Access Control issue in GitLab versions prior to 11.5.9, 11.6.x before 11.6.7, and 11.7.x before 11.7.2.

What is CVE-2019-7176?

This vulnerability enables unauthorized guest users to interact with comments using emojis, even if they lack visibility permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2019-7176

The vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized interaction with comments, potentially leading to data exposure or manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-7176

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows guest users to add reaction emojis to comments they are not authorized to view, compromising access control.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition 8.x (starting at 8.9), 9.x, 10.x, and 11.x
Versions prior to 11.5.9, 11.6.x before 11.6.7, and 11.7.x before 11.7.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized guest users can exploit the vulnerability to interact with comments using emojis, bypassing visibility restrictions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-7176 with these security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to versions 11.5.9, 11.6.7, or 11.7.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict guest user permissions to prevent unauthorized interactions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and adjust access control settings to limit unauthorized actions.
Educate users on proper interaction protocols to prevent security breaches.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.