CVE-2023-1621 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record details an issue discovered in GitLab EE, affecting multiple versions. The vulnerability enables a malicious group member to continue committing to projects even from a restricted IP address.

Understanding CVE-2023-1621

This section will delve into the specifics of CVE-2023-1621, including its impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-1621?

The CVE-2023-1621 vulnerability in GitLab EE allows unauthorized group members to bypass IP address restrictions and continue committing to projects. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of project code and data.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1621

The impact of this vulnerability is classified as medium severity with a base score of 6.5 according to the CVSS v3.1 scoring system. While the confidentiality impact is none, the integrity impact is high, posing a risk to the integrity of project code and data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1621

This section provides an overview of the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GitLab EE allows group members to commit to projects from restricted IP addresses, bypassing normal authorization checks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include all versions starting from 12.0 before 15.10.5 and all versions starting from 15.11 before 15.11.1 of GitLab EE.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability involves a malicious group member leveraging the lack of proper authorization checks to continue committing to projects from restricted IP addresses.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-1621 and enhance security, it is essential to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and ensure patching and updates are carried out promptly.

Immediate Steps to Take

GitLab administrators should review and update IP address restrictions to prevent unauthorized access.
Monitor project activities for any suspicious commits or unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access control policies within GitLab to minimize the risk of unauthorized actions.
Conduct security training for all users to raise awareness about best practices in project collaboration and security.

Patching and Updates

GitLab users are strongly advised to update their instances to versions 15.10.5 and 15.11.1 or newer to address the vulnerability and enhance security posture.