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TI-2023-03709 Aliases CVE-2023-3994GHSA-5jfm-fvc2-73xf

Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity in GitLab

Priority HIGH 72CWE-1333Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-1333.

Summary

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 9.3 before 16.0.8, all versions starting from 16.1 before 16.1.3, all versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.2. A Regular Expression Denial of Service was possible via sending crafted payloads which use ProjectReferenceFilter to the preview_markdown endpoint.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00958 61st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix Fixed GitLab (GitLab): 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
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
GitLabGitLab9.3 to before 16.0.8; 16.1 to before 16.1.3; 16.2 to before 16.2.216.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2Patch availableCNA
  • GitLab VendorGitLab Affected 9.3 to before 16.0.8; 16.1 to before 16.1.3; 16.2 to before 16.2.2 Fixed in 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*9.3 to before 16.0.8VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*9.3 to before 16.0.8VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*16.1 to before 16.1.3VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*16.1 to before 16.1.3VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*16.2 to before 16.2.2VulnerableGitLab
cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*16.2 to before 16.2.2VulnerableGitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 9.3 to before 16.0.8 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 9.3 to before 16.0.8 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.1 to before 16.1.3 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.1 to before 16.1.3 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.2 to before 16.2.2 Vulnerable ·GitLab
  • cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.2 to before 16.2.2 Vulnerable ·GitLab

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA GitLab (GitLab) Fixed in 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2

Fixed in the same release

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

  • Release ·

    GitLab 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2

    5 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 1 HIGH, 3 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2023-03180 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 64
    • TI-2023-03266 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 60
    • TI-2023-01899 Missing Authorization in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 53
    Show all 5 records →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-3994
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-5jfm-fvc2-73xf

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