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CVE Record

CVE-2021-22241: An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 14.0.

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 14.0. It was possible to exploit a stored cross-site-scripting via a specifically crafted default branch name.

HighCVSS 8.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-22241 is a high-severity stored cross-site scripting issue in GitLab CE/EE. A low-privileged user could create a crafted default branch name that executes in another user’s browser when viewed, potentially exposing data or actions within GitLab.

Executive priority

Treat this as a prompt upgrade item for affected GitLab installations. The issue can affect confidentiality and integrity, but available sources do not establish active exploitation.

Technical view

GitLab CE/EE 14.0.x before 14.0.7 and 14.1.x before 14.1.2 are listed as affected. The CVSS 3.1 vector indicates network access, low attack complexity, low privileges, required user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in self-managed GitLab CE/EE instances running the affected 14.0 or 14.1 release ranges, especially where untrusted users can create projects or control default branch names.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not report CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires a crafted default branch name and a victim user interaction in the GitLab interface.

Researcher notes

The key exposure condition is stored XSS through a crafted default branch name. The provided CVSS vector supports serious impact but still requires victim interaction. Source evidence is limited to GitLab-linked records and the public report reference.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all GitLab CE/EE instances and record exact versions.
  • Upgrade any affected 14.0.x or 14.1.x instance outside the listed vulnerable ranges.
  • Check GitLab vendor guidance before applying compensating controls.
  • Review who can create projects or change default branch names.
  • Prioritize remediation for internet-facing or multi-tenant GitLab instances.

Validation and detection

  • Compare deployed GitLab versions against affected ranges in the CVE record.
  • Confirm upgraded instances are no longer in 14.0 before 14.0.7 or 14.1 before 14.1.2.
  • Review project audit data for unusual default branch names where available.
  • Validate browser-facing GitLab pages render branch names safely after remediation.
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-2021-22241 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
High
CVSS
8.7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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
8.7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N2.35.8Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.7High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-22241Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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>=14.1, <14.1.2, >=14.0, <14.0.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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