CVE-2023-6955 : What You Need to Know

An improper access control vulnerability has been identified in GitLab Remote Development, impacting versions prior to 16.5.6, 16.6 prior to 16.6.4, and 16.7 prior to 16.7.2. This vulnerability allows an attacker to create a workspace in one group associated with an agent from another group.

Understanding CVE-2023-6955

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-6955 vulnerability in GitLab Remote Development.

What is CVE-2023-6955?

CVE-2023-6955 is classified as an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) in GitLab Remote Development, enabling unauthorized access to workspace creation across different groups within the application.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6955

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows malicious actors to subvert access controls and create workspaces in unauthorized groups within GitLab Remote Development, potentially leading to data breaches and unauthorized execution of actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6955

This section outlines the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-6955 vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The improper access control vulnerability in GitLab Remote Development allows attackers to create workspaces in groups where they lack authorization, potentially compromising data integrity and confidentiality.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: GitLab
Product: GitLab
Impacted Versions:
Version less than 16.5.6
Version less than 16.6.4
Version less than 16.7.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the improper access control settings to create workspaces in groups where they do not have the necessary permissions, thereby bypassing intended restrictions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-6955 vulnerability in GitLab Remote Development, consider the following mitigation strategies and best practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab to versions 16.7.2, 16.6.4, 16.5.6, or later to mitigate the improper access control vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict workspace creation permissions to authorized users within GitLab.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access control configurations to prevent unauthorized workspace creation activities.
Conduct security training for users to raise awareness about proper workspace management practices and potential risks of unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by GitLab to address vulnerabilities promptly.
Implement a robust patch management process to ensure timely deployment of security updates within the organization.