CVE-2021-22205 GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions: command or code injection
In plain words: The program treats text it receives as instructions instead of plain data. The attacker can run commands on the machine — often the whole device is taken over.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Nov 17, 2021
What to do
- Install GitLab's security update for Community and Enterprise Editions. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Product
- GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions
- CISA description
- GitHub Community and Enterprise Editions that utilize the ability to upload images through GitLab Workhorse are vulnerable to remote code execution. Workhorse passes image file extensions through ExifTool, which improperly validates the image files.
- Type of flaw
- Command or code injection (CWE-20, CWE-95)
- Confirmed exploited
- Nov 3, 2021 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Nov 17, 2021
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Answering about CVE-2021-22205 ·
Questions about CVE-2021-22205
Is CVE-2021-22205 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-22205 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Nov 3, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2021-22205?
Install GitLab's security update for Community and Enterprise Editions. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2021-22205?
Only if you use GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.