Read the docs
TI-2023-03649 Aliases CVE-2023-3909GHSA-8mrc-cw5j-72jw

Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity in GitLab

Priority LOW 30CWE-1333Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-1333.

Summary

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 12.3 before 16.3.6, all versions starting from 16.4 before 16.4.2, all versions starting from 16.5 before 16.5.1. A Regular Expression Denial of Service was possible by adding a large string in timeout input in gitlab-ci.yml file.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00725 54th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix Fixed GitLab (GitLab): 16.3.6, 16.4.2, 16.5.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
GitLabGitLab12.3 to before 16.3.6; 16.4 to before 16.4.2; 16.5 to before 16.5.116.3.6, 16.4.2, 16.5.1Patch availableCNA
  • GitLab VendorGitLab Affected 12.3 to before 16.3.6; 16.4 to before 16.4.2; 16.5 to before 16.5.1 Fixed in 16.3.6, 16.4.2, 16.5.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*12.3.0 to before 16.3.6VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*12.3.0 to before 16.3.6VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*16.4.0 to before 16.4.2VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*16.4.0 to before 16.4.2VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.5.0:*:*:*:community:*:*:*16.5.0VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.5.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*16.5.0VulnerableGitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 12.3.0 to before 16.3.6 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 12.3.0 to before 16.3.6 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.4.0 to before 16.4.2 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.4.0 to before 16.4.2 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.5.0:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.5.0 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.5.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.5.0 Vulnerable ·GitLab

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA GitLab (GitLab) Fixed in 16.3.6, 16.4.2, 16.5.1

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    GitLab 16.3.6, 16.4.2, 16.5.1

    7 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 1 HIGH, 2 MEDIUM, 4 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2023-03179 Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data in GitLabPriority HIGH 70
    • TI-2023-05361 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 62
    • TI-2023-03042 Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 53
    Show all 7 records →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-3909
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8mrc-cw5j-72jw
  3. 2026-11-01 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Exploit 1

Other 1

  • TI-2026-71508 Integer overflow in GitLab allows code execution on the server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2026-58817 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in GitLab KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2023-06425 Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password in GitLab KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2021-05191 Code injection in GitLab KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2021-05161 Server-side request forgery in GitLab KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2022-02763 Injection in GitLab CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
See all 1506 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences