CVE-2023-0989 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An information disclosure vulnerability has been identified in GitLab CE/EE versions starting from 13.11 and prior to 16.2.8, 16.3.5, and 16.4.1. This vulnerability allows an attacker to access non-protected CI/CD variables by manipulating a user to visit a malicious fork with a crafted CI/CD configuration.

Understanding CVE-2023-0989

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-0989, exploring its impact and technical details.

What is CVE-2023-0989?

CVE-2023-0989 is an information disclosure vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE that enables unauthorized actors to access non-protected CI/CD variables by exploiting a user through a malicious fork with a specially configured CI/CD setup.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0989

This vulnerability can lead to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized entities, potentially resulting in data breaches or unauthorized access to critical systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0989

In this section, we dive deeper into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a flaw in GitLab CE/EE versions prior to 16.2.8, 16.3.5, and 16.4.1, which allows attackers to extract non-protected CI/CD variables by deceiving users into visiting a fork with a malicious CI/CD configuration.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab CE/EE versions 13.11 through 16.2.8, 16.3.5, and 16.4.1 are vulnerable to this information disclosure flaw, putting instances running these versions at risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating a fork with a specially crafted CI/CD configuration that tricks users into revealing non-protected CI/CD variables, granting unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Outlined below are the steps to mitigate the impact of CVE-2023-0989 and prevent future occurrences.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab CE/EE to versions 16.4.1, 16.3.5, 16.2.8, or newer to patch the vulnerability and mitigate the risk of information disclosure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update CI/CD configurations to ensure they are not vulnerable to exploitation by malicious actors.
Implement security training for users to recognize and avoid interacting with suspicious or malicious forks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by GitLab and promptly apply them to your GitLab instance to protect against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-0989.