CVE-2022-3411 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A lack of length validation in GitLab CE/EE allows an authenticated attacker to create a large Issue description that saturates CPU usage.

Understanding CVE-2022-3411

This CVE involves an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in GitLab versions 12.4 to 15.8.1.

What is CVE-2022-3411?

CVE-2022-3411 is a vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE that enables authenticated attackers to exploit a lack of length validation, resulting in high CPU usage due to large Issue description creation.

The Impact of CVE-2022-3411

The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated attackers to degrade system performance and potentially disrupt services by causing CPU saturation.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-3411

This section provides specific technical details of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The lack of length validation in GitLab CE/EE from versions 12.4 to 15.8.1 allows authenticated attackers to create a large Issue description via GraphQL, leading to CPU saturation.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions from 12.4 before 15.6.7, 15.7 before 15.7.6, and 15.8 before 15.8.1 of GitLab CE/EE are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly requesting a large Issue description, causing CPU usage to reach saturation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2022-3411.

Immediate Steps to Take

GitLab users are advised to update their software to versions beyond 15.8.1 to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices and regularly updating GitLab software can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates from GitLab and apply patches promptly to protect systems from known vulnerabilities.