CVE-2021-22216 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A denial of service vulnerability in GitLab versions before 13.12.2, 13.11.5, or 13.10.5 allows attackers to cause uncontrolled resource consumption through long descriptions in issues or merge requests.

Understanding CVE-2021-22216

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in GitLab that can result in uncontrolled consumption of resources.

What is CVE-2021-22216?

The vulnerability in GitLab before versions 13.12.2, 13.11.5, or 13.10.5 allows malicious actors to exploit uncontrolled resource consumption by submitting lengthy descriptions.

The Impact of CVE-2021-22216

With a CVSS base score of 6.5 (Medium Severity), this vulnerability can have a significant impact on affected systems by causing high availability issues due to resource depletion.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-22216

This section provides specific technical details of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability permits attackers to trigger uncontrolled resource consumption by submitting excessively long descriptions.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab versions affected by this vulnerability include all versions before 13.12.2, 13.11.5, and 13.10.5.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting and submitting unusually long descriptions in issues or merge requests.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-22216, follow the mitigation strategies outlined below.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GitLab to at least version 13.12.2, 13.11.5, or 13.10.5 to mitigate the vulnerability. Monitor resource consumption for any abnormal behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensure timely updates of GitLab to patched versions and regularly review security advisories for any potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Keep GitLab installations up to date with the latest security patches and follow best practices to secure deployment.