CVE-2023-1936 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE that affects all versions starting from 13.7 before 15.11.10, all versions starting from 16.0 before 16.0.6, and all versions starting from 16.1 before 16.1.1. This vulnerability allows an attacker to leak the email address of a user who created a service desk issue.

Understanding CVE-2023-1936

This CVE pertains to an improper access control vulnerability in GitLab, more specifically in versions 13.7, 16.0, and 16.1 before certain patch updates.

What is CVE-2023-1936?

The CVE-2023-1936 vulnerability in GitLab allows malicious actors to reveal the email address of a user who has submitted a service desk issue. This can lead to potential privacy breaches and targeted attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1936

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as LOW according to the CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.5. While the confidentiality impact is low, the exploit can still result in unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1936

This section provides more insights into the vulnerability, including the affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control, highlighting the flaw in GitLab's access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized email disclosure.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab versions 13.7, 16.0, and 16.1 are affected by this vulnerability, specifically versions prior to 15.11.10, 16.0.6, and 16.1.1 respectively.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to extract the email address of a user who initiated a service desk issue, potentially leading to further security breaches or targeted attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-1936, certain steps need to be undertaken to enhance the security posture of affected systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade their GitLab instances to versions 15.11.10, 16.0.6, 16.1.1, or above to patch the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized email address disclosures.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust access control mechanisms, conducting regular security audits, and maintaining up-to-date software versions can help bolster the overall security posture to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches released by GitLab is crucial to address known vulnerabilities and ensure the security of the platform.