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CVE-2023-2198 : Security Advisory and Response

Learn about CVE-2023-2198, a vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE allowing for Regular Expression Denial of Service. Impact rated high with a severity score of 7.5.

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-2198, a vulnerability discovered in GitLab CE/EE.

Understanding CVE-2023-2198

CVE-2023-2198 is a vulnerability found in GitLab CE/EE that affects versions ranging from 8.7 to 16.0. The issue allows for Regular Expression Denial of Service by sending malicious payloads to the preview_markdown endpoint.

What is CVE-2023-2198?

The CVE-2023-2198 vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE enables an attacker to perform a Regular Expression Denial of Service attack by sending crafted payloads to the preview_markdown endpoint. This can lead to a disruption in the availability of the service.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2198

The impact of CVE-2023-2198 is rated as HIGH, with a base severity score of 7.5 according to CVSS:3.1 metrics. It can result in a significant availability impact on the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2198

This section covers the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for uncontrolled resource consumption in GitLab, specifically in versions 8.7 to 16.0, leading to a Regular Expression Denial of Service attack through crafted payloads.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab CE/EE versions starting from 8.7 before 15.10.8, versions starting from 15.11 before 15.11.7, and versions starting from 16.0 before 16.0.2 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted payloads to the preview_markdown endpoint, an attacker can exploit the vulnerability and trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service condition in the affected GitLab instances.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-2198 and reduce the risk of exploitation, certain steps need to be taken by organizations using GitLab CE/EE.

Immediate Steps to Take

        Update GitLab CE/EE to version 15.10.8, 15.11.7, or 16.0.2 to patch the vulnerability.
        Monitor for any abnormal resource consumption patterns in GitLab instances.
        Implement strict input validation to prevent crafted payloads from triggering the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

        Regularly update GitLab to the latest secure versions to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
        Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address any existing security weaknesses in the deployment.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial for organizations utilizing GitLab to stay informed about security updates and promptly apply patches released by GitLab to address known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-2198.

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