CVE-2019-9221 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before versions 11.6.10, 11.7.x before 11.7.6, and 11.8.x before 11.8.1 are affected by an Incorrect Access Control issue.

Understanding CVE-2019-9221

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in GitLab versions prior to the specified releases.

What is CVE-2019-9221?

CVE-2019-9221 is the identification number for a security flaw found in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before specific versions.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9221

The vulnerability allows incorrect access control, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or actions within GitLab instances.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9221

GitLab's Incorrect Access Control vulnerability is detailed below.

Vulnerability Description

The issue is the third out of five identified problems in the affected GitLab versions, allowing unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition before 11.6.10
GitLab 11.7.x before 11.7.6
GitLab 11.8.x before 11.8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions within the affected GitLab instances.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-9221 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to versions 11.6.10, 11.7.6, or 11.8.1, which contain fixes for this vulnerability.
Monitor and review access controls and permissions within GitLab to ensure proper restrictions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update GitLab to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and address any access control issues.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure your GitLab instances are protected from known vulnerabilities.