CVE-2023-7028 is a critical vulnerability affecting GitLab CE/EE, with a CVSS score of 10. This vulnerability allows user account password reset emails to be sent to an unverified email address. The risk to organizations includes potential account takeover, as an attacker could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this risk.
The vulnerability affects all versions from 16.1 prior to 16.1.6, 16.2 prior to 16.2.9, 16.3 prior to 16.3.7, 16.4 prior to 16.4.5, 16.5 prior to 16.5.6, 16.6 prior to 16.6.4, and 16.7 prior to 16.7.2. Given its critical status and exploitation potential, organizations are urged to take immediate action.
As the vulnerability has been categorized as critical, its exploitation could have severe implications for data confidentiality and integrity. Organizations relying on GitLab should assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement appropriate remediation measures without delay.
The urgency for defenders cannot be overstated: attackers may leverage this vulnerability to compromise user accounts, making it imperative for organizations to address this risk as part of their immediate security posture.
Vulnerability Details
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting multiple versions, where user account password reset emails could be delivered to an unverified email address. This flaw is classified as CWE-640: Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating its critical severity.
The vulnerability impacts GitLab products, specifically versions prior to the following: 16.1.6, 16.2.9, 16.3.7, 16.4.5, 16.5.6, 16.6.4, and 16.7.2. The publication date of this vulnerability was January 12, 2024.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-7028 stems from improper access control measures in the password reset functionality of GitLab. Attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger password reset emails, which may allow them to take over user accounts without any prior authorization or user interaction.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, with low complexity to exploit. No privileges are required, and no user interaction is necessary to trigger the attack. The scope of the impact is classified as changed, meaning that the vulnerability affects the security context of the impacted component.
In terms of impact, the confidentiality and integrity of user accounts are at high risk, while availability is unaffected. Organizations using the impacted versions should be aware of the potential for significant data breaches if this vulnerability is exploited.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2023-7028 is considerable, particularly for organizations that utilize GitLab for critical applications. The potential for unauthorized account access poses a significant threat, particularly in environments where sensitive data is stored or processed.
Organizations should consider the blast radius of this vulnerability, as it could lead to widespread access across multiple accounts if exploited. The urgency assessment based on its CVSS score of 9.8, combined with its presence in the KEV catalog, suggests that remediation efforts should be prioritized over routine maintenance.
Given the high EPSS score of 0.935, organizations are at a high percentile risk of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild. Immediate action is crucial to mitigate potential impacts.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of GitLab are affected: all versions from 16.1 prior to 16.1.6, 16.2 prior to 16.2.9, 16.3 prior to 16.3.7, 16.4 prior to 16.4.5, 16.5 prior to 16.5.6, 16.6 prior to 16.6.4, and 16.7 prior to 16.7.2.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply mitigations as per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the affected product if mitigations are unavailable. Upgrading to the latest stable version of GitLab is crucial.
For further security measures, organizations may consider implementing additional configurations and monitoring solutions to enhance their security posture.
For more comprehensive guidance, organizations should refer to the detailed application security assessment services offered by AppSecure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for unusual account activity, especially around password reset requests. Log indicators related to authentication failures, as well as irregular patterns in user account management, can help detect potential exploitation attempts.
Additionally, network signatures that identify unauthorized access attempts should be implemented. Organizations should regularly review system logs for any anomalies.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-7028 represents a significant threat to organizations using GitLab. The pattern of vulnerabilities related to improper access control highlights the need for stringent security measures in application design. Security teams should conduct thorough security testing and adopt proactive measures to address similar vulnerabilities.
For organizations looking to enhance their security resilience, regular engagement in red teaming services can provide valuable insights and help identify weaknesses in existing security measures.
Moreover, integrating a penetration testing program into security practices will aid in further strengthening defenses against emerging threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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