External risk intelligence

GitLab Account Takeover Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2023-7028

A vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE could allow unauthorized account access by redirecting password reset emails to unverified addresses. This presents a risk of account takeover and potential data compromise for affected organizations.

4Halo Surface Signal

Gitlab

16.1.0 to before 16.1.616.2.0 to before 16.2.916.3.0 to before 16.3.716.4.0 to before 16.4.516.5.0 to before 16.5.616.6.0 to before 16.6.416.7.0 to before 16.7.2

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2023-7028

GitLab is commonly deployed as an internet-facing web application to facilitate remote collaboration and code management. As a central repository and CI/CD platform, it is frequently exposed to the public internet or accessible to a wide range of external contributors, making its authentication and password reset interfaces typical targets for reachability.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

An issue has been identified within GitLab CE/EE that could allow unauthorized access to user accounts. This vulnerability enables attackers to direct password reset emails to unverified email addresses. Such an action could lead to account takeovers, potentially impacting the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data.

  • GitLab CE/EE
  • Password reset emails sent to unverified addresses
  • Compromised user accounts and data

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit a vulnerability in GitLab, allowing them to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. This attack path involves an exposed system, attacker access, and a specific triggering action, ultimately leading to account control. Organizations using affected GitLab versions may face risks related to data compromise and unauthorized system modifications.

  • Exposed GitLab installation.
  • Attacker initiates password reset.
  • Emails sent to attacker's address.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

An issue in GitLab CE/EE could allow attackers to reset user passwords and gain unauthorized access to accounts. This vulnerability affects password reset emails, potentially enabling an account takeover if an attacker can influence the email delivery to an unverified address. The severity is rated as critical, indicating a significant business risk.

  • Attacker skill level: Low.
  • Required access or conditions: Publicly accessible GitLab instance.
  • Business risk or urgency: Critical; treat as urgent.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability allows unauthorized users to reset passwords for accounts by sending emails to unverified addresses. Attackers can leverage this to gain control of user accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems. The risk to the organization includes compromised credentials, unauthorized system access, and potential data breaches.

  • Find GitLab instances and user accounts.
  • Isolate affected GitLab instances.
  • Apply vendor updates and verify.
  • Monitor for suspicious activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is GitLab and its purpose in software development?

GitLab is a comprehensive web-based DevOps platform that supports the entire software development lifecycle. It is utilized for code version control, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), issue tracking, and project management, facilitating team collaboration and efficient software delivery.

What kind of vulnerability is CVE-2023-7028 in GitLab?

CVE-2023-7028 is an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-640). This weakness allows an attacker to send password reset emails for a targeted user account to an email address that has not been verified, which can result in the takeover of that account.

How can an attacker exploit CVE-2023-7028 to gain access?

An attacker can trigger a password reset for a GitLab user. The vulnerability allows the reset email to be sent to an unverified address, which the attacker can control, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the user's account.

What is the significance of CVE-2023-7028 according to Halo's threat advisory?

Halo assesses CVE-2023-7028 as 'Likely' exploitable externally. This is because GitLab is often deployed as an internet-facing application for collaboration and code management, making its authentication and password reset functions common targets for remote attackers.

What actions should be taken to address this GitLab vulnerability?

It is recommended to apply the security updates provided by GitLab promptly. Organizations should identify all GitLab instances, isolate affected systems if necessary, apply vendor patches, and monitor for any suspicious activity to ensure continued security.

References