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CVE Record

CVE-2021-22234: An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 13.11 before 13.11.7, all...

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 13.11 before 13.11.7, all versions starting from 13.12 before 13.12.8, and all versions starting from 14.0 before 14.0.4. A specially crafted design image allowed attackers to read arbitrary files on the server.

CriticalCVSS 9.6Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This GitLab flaw could let a logged-in attacker make GitLab read files from its own server by using a malicious design image. Server files may include configuration, secrets, or repository-related data depending on deployment. The affected versions are old, but any unpatched self-managed GitLab instance remains high risk.

Executive priority

Treat this as an urgent remediation item for any self-managed GitLab in the affected version ranges. The business risk is unauthorized access to server files and possible downstream credential exposure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-22234 affects GitLab CE/EE 13.11 before 13.11.7, 13.12 before 13.12.8, and 14.0 before 14.0.4. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.6 with network access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in self-managed GitLab CE/EE deployments running the listed 13.11, 13.12, or 14.0 vulnerable ranges where authenticated users can interact with design image functionality.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is still serious because the CVSS vector indicates remote, low-complexity exploitation by a low-privileged authenticated attacker without user interaction.

Researcher notes

The bundle identifies arbitrary server file read through specially crafted design images, but does not include CWE mapping. CVSS requires low privileges, so validation should focus on authenticated attack surface, exact versioning, GitLab service account file access, and post-remediation credential review.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade GitLab CE/EE to 13.11.7, 13.12.8, 14.0.4, or later supported releases.
  • Check GitLab vendor guidance for any deployment-specific mitigation or follow-up hardening.
  • Restrict GitLab access to trusted users until affected instances are remediated.
  • Review server-side secrets potentially readable by the GitLab service account.
  • Rotate exposed credentials if logs or evidence suggest file access occurred.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all self-managed GitLab CE/EE instances and record exact versions.
  • Confirm no instance runs 13.11 before 13.11.7, 13.12 before 13.12.8, or 14.0 before 14.0.4.
  • Check whether design image functionality is enabled and reachable to authenticated users.
  • Review GitLab and web access logs for suspicious design image activity.
  • Verify upgraded instances report a fixed or later supported version.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-22234 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.6 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.6CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N3.15.8Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.6Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-22234Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GitLabGitLab>=14.0, <14.0.4, >=13.12, <13.12.8, >=13.11, <13.11.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.