📄 Description (English)
GitLab has remediated an issue in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 14.3 before 18.8.7, 18.9 before 18.9.3, and 18.10 before 18.10.1 affecting Jira Connect installations that could have allowed an authenticated user with minimal workspace permissions to obtain installation credentials and impersonate the GitLab app due to improper authorization checks.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
GitLab versions 14.3-18.8.6, 18.9.0-18.9.2, and 18.10.0 contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in Jira Connect installations that allows authenticated users with minimal workspace permissions to steal installation credentials and impersonate the GitLab application. This high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) affects both Community and Enterprise editions and could enable lateral movement and unauthorized access to integrated systems. Immediate patching to versions 18.8.7, 18.9.3, or 18.10.1+ is critical for organizations using GitLab with Jira integrations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 26, 2026 06:56
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations in software development, financial services, and government sectors using GitLab with Jira integrations face significant risk. Banking institutions (SAMA-regulated) and government agencies (NCA oversight) utilizing these platforms for DevOps pipelines could experience unauthorized access to sensitive project data, credentials, and integrated systems. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily) and energy sector organizations (ARAMCO) managing critical infrastructure code through GitLab are particularly vulnerable. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation from minimal workspace permissions to full application impersonation, potentially compromising CI/CD pipelines and deployment credentials.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
Healthcare
Software Development and Technology
Defense and Security
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1110 - Brute Force (credential compromise)
T1187 - Forced Authentication (credential theft)
T1556 - Modify Authentication Process (app impersonation)
T1098 - Account Manipulation (unauthorized access with stolen credentials)
T1078 - Valid Accounts (privilege escalation with minimal permissions)
T1199 - Trusted Relationship (Jira-GitLab integration abuse)
T1528 - Steal Application Access Token (installation credentials theft)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all GitLab instances running affected versions (14.3-18.8.6, 18.9.0-18.9.2, 18.10.0) with Jira Connect enabled
2. Audit Jira Connect installation credentials and access logs for unauthorized access attempts
3. Rotate all GitLab-to-Jira integration credentials and API tokens immediately
4. Review workspace permissions and audit user access to Jira Connect configurations
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade GitLab to patched versions: 18.8.7, 18.9.3, 18.10.1 or later
2. Test patches in non-production environments before production deployment
3. Schedule maintenance windows for upgrades to minimize business disruption
4. Verify Jira Connect functionality post-upgrade
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Restrict Jira Connect workspace access to trusted administrators only
2. Implement network segmentation to limit GitLab-Jira communication
3. Enable MFA for all GitLab accounts with workspace permissions
4. Monitor and log all Jira Connect API calls and credential access
DETECTION RULES:
1. Alert on unauthorized access to GitLab Jira Connect installation endpoints
2. Monitor for credential extraction attempts from /api/v4/admin/integrations/jira_connect endpoints
3. Track unusual API token generation or usage patterns
4. Log all changes to Jira Connect workspace permissions and configurations
5. Detect lateral movement attempts using stolen GitLab credentials to access Jira or other integrated systems
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع مثيلات GitLab التي تعمل بالإصدارات المتأثرة (14.3-18.8.6، 18.9.0-18.9.2، 18.10.0) مع تفعيل Jira Connect
2. تدقيق بيانات اعتماد Jira Connect وسجلات الوصول لمحاولات الوصول غير المصرح به
3. تدوير جميع بيانات اعتماد التكامل بين GitLab و Jira وتوكنات API فوراً
4. مراجعة صلاحيات مساحة العمل وتدقيق وصول المستخدم إلى تكوينات Jira Connect
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية GitLab إلى الإصدارات المصححة: 18.8.7، 18.9.3، 18.10.1 أو أحدث
2. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج قبل نشر الإنتاج
3. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة للترقيات لتقليل انقطاع الأعمال
4. التحقق من وظائف Jira Connect بعد الترقية
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تقييد وصول مساحة عمل Jira Connect للمسؤولين الموثوقين فقط
2. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لتحديد اتصالات GitLab-Jira
3. تفعيل MFA لجميع حسابات GitLab بصلاحيات مساحة العمل
4. مراقبة وتسجيل جميع استدعاءات Jira Connect API والوصول إلى بيانات الاعتماد
قواعد الكشف:
1. التنبيه على الوصول غير المصرح به إلى نقاط نهاية تثبيت GitLab Jira Connect
2. مراقبة محاولات استخراج بيانات الاعتماد من نقاط نهاية /api/v4/admin/integrations/jira_connect
3. تتبع أنماط توليد أو استخدام توكن API غير العادية
4. تسجيل جميع التغييرات على صلاحيات وتكوينات مساحة عمل Jira Connect
5. الكشف عن محاولات الحركة الجانبية باستخدام بيانات اعتماد GitLab المسروقة للوصول إلى Jira أو الأنظمة المدمجة الأخرى
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies (unauthorized credential access)
ECC 2024 A.6.1.2 - User Registration and De-registration (privilege escalation)
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - User Access Management (improper authorization checks)
ECC 2024 A.9.2.1 - User Access Rights Review (credential theft vulnerability)
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-1 - Asset Management (GitLab integration inventory)
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control Policy (authorization bypass)
SAMA CSF PR.AC-4 - Access Rights Management (minimal permissions escalation)
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection and Analysis (credential compromise monitoring)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.2 - Information Security Policies (access control framework)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - User Access Management (authentication and authorization)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3 - User Responsibilities (credential protection)
ISO 27001:2022 A.9.2 - User Access Rights (privilege management)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.1 - Change default vendor-supplied passwords (GitLab credentials)
PCI DSS 7.1 - Restrict access to cardholder data (authorization controls)
PCI DSS 8.1 - User identification and authentication (credential compromise)
🔗 References & Sources 3
📦 Affected Products / CPE 6 entries
gitlab:gitlab
gitlab:gitlab
gitlab:gitlab
gitlab:gitlab
gitlab:gitlab:18.10.0
gitlab:gitlab:18.10.0