CVE-2019-11576 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In versions of Gitea prior to 1.8.0, a vulnerability allowed the bypassing of two-factor authentication (2FA) for user accounts, enabling single-factor authentication (1FA) if an attacker gains access to user credentials.

Understanding CVE-2019-11576

In this CVE, a security flaw in Gitea versions before 1.8.0 could potentially compromise user accounts protected by 2FA.

What is CVE-2019-11576?

Gitea versions prior to 1.8.0 allowed the use of 1FA for accounts that had completed 2FA enrollment, creating a security loophole if an attacker obtains user credentials.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11576

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to send user credentials to the API, bypassing the need for the 2FA one-time password.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11576

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Gitea before version 1.8.0 permitted the use of 1FA for accounts that had finished 2FA enrollment, potentially exposing accounts to unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Gitea
Vendor: N/A
Versions: All versions before 1.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers gaining knowledge of user credentials could exploit the vulnerability by sending the credentials to the API, circumventing the 2FA protection.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-11576, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Gitea to version 1.8.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Encourage users to reset their credentials if they suspect any compromise.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security.
Regularly educate users on best practices for password security and account protection.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Gitea to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-11576.