CVE-2022-3613 : Security Advisory and Response

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions before 15.5.7, all versions starting from 15.6 before 15.6.4, all versions starting from 15.7 before 15.7.2. This vulnerability allows a crafted Prometheus Server query to cause high resource consumption leading to Denial of Service.

Understanding CVE-2022-3613

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2022-3613.

What is CVE-2022-3613?

CVE-2022-3613 is a vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE versions, where a specially crafted Prometheus Server query can result in high resource usage, potentially leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition.

The Impact of CVE-2022-3613

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to disrupt services by consuming excessive resources, affecting the availability of GitLab instances.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-3613

Below are the essential technical details associated with CVE-2022-3613.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper handling of Prometheus Server queries, enabling malicious users to exploit this flaw to exhaust system resources.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab CE/EE versions before 15.5.7, starting from 15.6 before 15.6.4, and starting from 15.7 before 15.7.2 are all susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting malicious Prometheus Server queries, attackers can trigger high resource consumption, ultimately leading to service disruptions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2022-3613 is crucial for ensuring the security of GitLab instances.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their GitLab CE/EE installations to versions 15.5.7, 15.6.4, or 15.7.2 to patch the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms to filter out malicious queries.
Regularly monitor resource consumption to detect unusual spikes that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates from GitLab and promptly apply patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.