CVE-2020-13299 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in GitLab versions before 13.1.10, 13.2.8, and 13.3.4 allowed the reuse of session tokens, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Understanding CVE-2020-13299

This CVE highlights a security issue in GitLab versions that could compromise user sessions.

What is CVE-2020-13299?

The vulnerability in GitLab versions prior to 13.1.10, 13.2.8, and 13.3.4 allowed session tokens not to be fully revoked, enabling attackers to reuse them for unauthorized access.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13299

The vulnerability posed a high severity risk with confidentiality, integrity, and low privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13299

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in GitLab versions before 13.1.10, 13.2.8, and 13.3.4 allowed the reuse of session tokens due to incomplete revocation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GitLab
Vendor: GitLab
Vulnerable Versions: >=1.0, <13.1.10; >=13.2, <13.2.8; >=13.3, <13.3.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Vector: Network Attack Complexity: Low Privileges Required: Low User Interaction: None Scope: Unchanged Vector String: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to versions 13.1.10, 13.2.8, or 13.3.4 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and revoke active sessions to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate users on session security best practices to prevent session token misuse.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by GitLab to ensure system security.