CVE-2020-26416 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in GitLab EE allows for information disclosure in the Advanced Search component, potentially exposing search terms via Rails logs.

Understanding CVE-2020-26416

This CVE involves an information exposure issue in GitLab EE, impacting versions from 8.4 to 13.6.2.

What is CVE-2020-26416?

The vulnerability in the Advanced Search component of GitLab EE from version 8.4 onwards can lead to the exposure of search terms through Rails logs.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26416

CVSS Base Score: 4 (Medium Severity)
Confidentiality Impact: High
Attack Complexity: High
User Interaction: Required
Privileges Required: High
Affected Versions: >=8.4 to <13.4.7, >=13.5 to <13.5.5, >=13.6 to <13.6.2

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26416

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to access search terms through Rails logs, potentially leading to information exposure.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: GitLab EE
Vendor: GitLab
Affected Versions:
=8.4 to <13.4.7

=13.5 to <13.5.5

=13.6 to <13.6.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited locally with high attack complexity, requiring user interaction and high privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-26416 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab EE to a patched version.
Monitor and review logs for any suspicious activity.
Implement access controls to limit exposure of sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch GitLab EE to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for employees to enhance awareness of information security best practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by GitLab promptly to mitigate the vulnerability.