CVE-2023-0632 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue has been discovered in GitLab that affects multiple versions, allowing for Regular Expression Denial of Service through crafted payloads to search Harbor Registry.

Understanding CVE-2023-0632

This CVE affects various versions of GitLab, posing a risk of Regular Expression Denial of Service by utilizing malicious payloads to exploit the Harbor Registry functionality.

What is CVE-2023-0632?

CVE-2023-0632 is a vulnerability found in GitLab versions starting from 15.2 before 16.0.8, versions starting from 16.1 before 16.1.3, and versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.2. The vulnerability enables attackers to trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service by leveraging specially crafted payloads during searches within the Harbor Registry.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0632

The impact of CVE-2023-0632 is rated as MEDIUM severity based on the CVSS v3.1 scoring system. The availability of affected systems is at high risk due to the vulnerability, while integrity and confidentiality are not affected. The base CVSS score is 6.5.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0632

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GitLab enables attackers to provoke Regular Expression Denial of Service by utilizing carefully crafted payloads in searches within the Harbor Registry feature, leading to resource exhaustion and potential service disruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab versions 15.2 to 16.2.1 are vulnerable to CVE-2023-0632. Specifically, versions 15.2 (before 16.0.8), 16.1 (before 16.1.3), and 16.2 (before 16.2.2) are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted payloads while interacting with the Harbor Registry functionality in the affected GitLab versions, threat actors can trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service attack, causing excessive resource consumption and potential service unavailability.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate action to address and prevent potential exploits related to CVE-2023-0632.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the vulnerability, users are advised to upgrade their GitLab installations to versions 16.2.2, 16.1.3, 16.0.8, or later, where the security issue has been addressed and resolved.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporating secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and maintaining awareness of potential vulnerabilities can reduce the risk of similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches provided by GitLab is essential to ensure that systems are protected against known vulnerabilities and exploits.

By applying the recommended solutions and staying informed about security best practices, organizations utilizing GitLab can enhance their cybersecurity posture and safeguard their systems from potential threats.