CVE-2022-3759 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE impacting versions 14.3 to 15.8.1. An attacker can trigger a Denial of Service by uploading a crafted CI job artifact zip file.

Understanding CVE-2022-3759

This CVE affects GitLab CE/EE versions between 14.3 to 15.8.1, allowing attackers to exploit a vulnerability leading to Denial of Service.

What is CVE-2022-3759?

The vulnerability in GitLab CE/EE versions before 15.6.7, 15.7.6, and 15.8.1 allows an attacker to upload a specially crafted CI job artifact zip file, causing a Sidekiq job to consume excessive memory, potentially resulting in Denial of Service.

The Impact of CVE-2022-3759

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to Denial of Service in GitLab instances that have memory-limited Sidekiq, affecting service availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-3759

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to upload a malicious CI job artifact zip file, leading to Sidekiq job memory allocation issues, impacting availability.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitLab CE/EE versions from 14.3 to 15.8.1 are affected by this vulnerability, with versions 15.6.7, 15.7.6, and 15.8.1 being safe from exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By uploading a crafted CI job artifact zip file in projects utilizing dynamic child pipelines, an attacker can cause a Sidekiq job to allocate excessive memory, potentially creating a Denial of Service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-3759, immediate actions must be taken along with long-term security practices and timely patching.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade affected GitLab instances to versions 15.6.7, 15.7.6, or 15.8.1 to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Monitor system resources to detect any unusual memory consumption that might indicate a potential attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent the introduction of vulnerabilities during development.
Regularly update and patch GitLab instances to protect against known vulnerabilities and security threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches provided by GitLab to mitigate the risk of exploitation and enhance system security.