CVE-2020-13246 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in Gitea through 1.11.5. An attacker can trigger a deadlock by initiating a transfer of a repository's ownership from one organization to another.

Understanding CVE-2020-13246

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Gitea that allows an attacker to cause a deadlock by transferring a repository's ownership between organizations.

What is CVE-2020-13246?

CVE-2020-13246 is a security flaw found in Gitea versions up to 1.11.5, enabling an attacker to create a deadlock through ownership transfer of repositories.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13246

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt the normal functioning of Gitea instances, potentially leading to denial of service or other security compromises.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13246

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Gitea allows an attacker to initiate a repository ownership transfer, resulting in a deadlock situation within the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Gitea
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: Up to 1.11.5

Exploitation Mechanism

By triggering a transfer of repository ownership from one organization to another, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause a deadlock in Gitea.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13246 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Gitea to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor repository ownership transfers for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Educate users on secure repository management practices.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for and apply security patches and updates provided by Gitea to mitigate the risk of exploitation.