CVE-2023-5995 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record relates to an issue of improper access control in GitLab, impacting various versions of GitLab EE. The vulnerability allowed attackers to exploit the policy bot to access internal projects.

Understanding CVE-2023-5995

This section will delve into the details of the CVE-2023-5995 vulnerability in GitLab.

What is CVE-2023-5995?

CVE-2023-5995 is a vulnerability in GitLab EE that affects versions 16.2, 16.5, and 16.6, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to internal projects.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5995

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 4.4. It poses a high risk in terms of confidentiality, with no impact on integrity or availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5995

This section will cover the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-5995 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stemmed from improper access control mechanisms in GitLab EE versions 16.2, 16.5, and 16.6, allowing attackers to misuse the policy bot for unauthorized access to internal projects.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab EE versions 16.2, 16.5, and 16.6 are impacted by this vulnerability, with versions lower than 16.4.3, 16.5.3, and 16.6.1 respectively being at risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the policy bot in affected GitLab EE versions to gain access to internal projects.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address the CVE-2023-5995 vulnerability and prevent potential security breaches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade their GitLab EE installations to version 16.4.3, 16.5.3, 16.6.1, or higher to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access control policies, regular security audits, and employee training on secure coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates provided by GitLab is essential to keep systems protected against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5995.