CVE-2019-15740 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 7.9 through 12.2.1 could lead to the failure to delete EXIF Geolocation data from specific image uploads.

Understanding CVE-2019-15740

This CVE identifies a security issue in GitLab software that could compromise the privacy of users by not removing location data from images.

What is CVE-2019-15740?

This CVE pertains to a flaw in GitLab versions 7.9 through 12.2.1 that fails to delete EXIF Geolocation data from certain image uploads, potentially exposing sensitive location information.

The Impact of CVE-2019-15740

The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to access and exploit location data embedded in images uploaded to GitLab, compromising user privacy and potentially leading to location tracking.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-15740

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

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in GitLab Community and Enterprise Edition versions 7.9 through 12.2.1, where EXIF Geolocation data is not properly removed from specific image uploads, posing a risk to user privacy.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab Community Edition 7.9 through 12.2.1
GitLab Enterprise Edition 7.9 through 12.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by uploading images containing EXIF Geolocation data to GitLab, leveraging the oversight in data removal to access sensitive location information.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-15740, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade GitLab to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Avoid uploading images with sensitive EXIF Geolocation data until the software is updated.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update GitLab software to the latest versions to ensure all security patches are applied.
Educate users on the risks of sharing images with embedded location data.

Patching and Updates

GitLab has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Ensure that your GitLab instance is updated to a version that includes the fix.