IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS10.0
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2023-7028|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Improper Access Control Vulnerability

GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions contain an improper access control vulnerability. This allows an attacker to trigger password reset emails to be sent to an unverified email address to ultimately facilitate an account takeover.

Published Jan 12, 2024 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2024-05-22 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Software Vulnerability (CWE-640) (CWE-640) vulnerability in GitLab GitLab CE/EE. An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 16.1 prior to 16.1.6, 16.2 prior to 16.2.9, 16.3 prior to 16.3.7, 16.4 prior to 16.4.5, 16.5 prior to 16.5.6, 16.6 prior to 16.6.4, and 16.7 prior to 16.7.2 in which user account password reset emails could be delivered to an unverified email address. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running gitlab: 16.1.0 ≤ v < 16.1.6, 16.2.0 ≤ v < 16.2.9, 16.3.0 ≤ v < 16.3.7, 16.4.0 ≤ v < 16.4.5, 16.5.0 ≤ v < 16.5.6, 16.6.0 ≤ v < 16.6.4, 16.7.0 ≤ v < 16.7.2
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/436084

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2024/01/11/critical-security-release-gitlab-16-7-2-released/
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7028
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-7028
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