CVE-2022-0123 : Security Advisory and Response

A critical vulnerability has been identified in GitLab versions prior to 14.4.5, between 14.5.0 and 14.5.3, and between 14.6.0 and 14.6.1 that could lead to Man-in-the-Middle attacks on connections to external CI services.

Understanding CVE-2022-0123

This vulnerability, assigned the CVE ID CVE-2022-0123, affects GitLab software and poses a medium severity threat due to SSL certificate validation issues.

What is CVE-2022-0123?

CVE-2022-0123 is a security flaw in GitLab that allows attackers to intercept connections to external CI services by bypassing SSL certificate validation.

The Impact of CVE-2022-0123

With a CVSS base score of 5.9 (Medium severity), this vulnerability could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data as well as require high privileges for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-0123

The technical details of CVE-2022-0123 include the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

GitLab versions specified are vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle attacks due to inadequate SSL certificate validation when communicating with external CI services.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab versions prior to 14.4.5, between 14.5.0 and 14.5.3, and between 14.6.0 and 14.6.1 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting communications between GitLab and external CI services without proper SSL certificate validation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-0123, immediate steps should be taken along with the establishment of long-term security practices and timely patching.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using affected GitLab versions should update to the patched versions immediately to prevent potential MitM attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict SSL/TLS certificate validation practices and regularly monitor for security updates and patches.

Patching and Updates

GitLab users should apply the security patches provided by GitLab for versions 14.4.5, 14.5.3, and 14.6.1 to mitigate the risk of exploitation.