CVE-2020-26414 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions starting from 12.4. The regex used for package names is written in a way that makes execution time have quadratic growth based on the length of the malicious input string.

Understanding CVE-2020-26414

This CVE affects GitLab versions between 12.4 and 13.7.2.

What is CVE-2020-26414?

CVE-2020-26414 is a vulnerability in GitLab that allows for quadratic growth in execution time based on the length of a malicious input string due to an incorrect regular expression.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26414

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 4.3. It has low attack complexity and vector, affecting availability with unchanged scope.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26414

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an incorrect regular expression in GitLab, leading to a significant increase in execution time based on input length.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected versions include GitLab >=12.4, <13.5.6, >=13.6.0, <13.6.4, and >=13.7.0, <13.7.2.

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue allows attackers to craft malicious input strings that can cause a quadratic growth in execution time, potentially leading to denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-26414, follow these mitigation steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to a patched version that addresses the regex vulnerability.
Monitor system performance for any signs of unusual execution time growth.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

GitLab has released patches to fix the regex issue. Ensure timely application of these patches to secure your system.