Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity in GitLab
Priority LOW 31CWE-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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-1333.
Summary
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 12.7 prior to 16.6.6, 16.7 prior to 16.7.4, and 16.8 prior to 16.8.1 It was possible for an attacker to trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service via a `Cargo.toml` containing maliciously crafted input.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00987 62nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix Fixed GitLab (GitLab): 16.6.6, 16.7.4, 16.8.1
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitLab | GitLab | 12.7 to before 16.6.6; 16.7 to before 16.7.4; 16.8 to before 16.8.1 | 16.6.6, 16.7.4, 16.8.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- GitLab VendorGitLab Affected 12.7 to before 16.6.6; 16.7 to before 16.7.4; 16.8 to before 16.8.1 Fixed in 16.6.6, 16.7.4, 16.8.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* | 12.7.0 to before 16.6.6 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | 12.7.0 to before 16.6.6 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* | 16.7.0 to before 16.7.4 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | 16.7.0 to before 16.7.4 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.8.0:*:*:*:community:*:*:* | 16.8.0 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
| cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.8.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* | 16.8.0 | Vulnerable | GitLab |
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 12.7.0 to before 16.6.6 Vulnerable ·GitLab
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 12.7.0 to before 16.6.6 Vulnerable ·GitLab
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.7.0 to before 16.7.4 Vulnerable ·GitLab
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.7.0 to before 16.7.4 Vulnerable ·GitLab
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.8.0:*:*:*:community:*:*:* Versions 16.8.0 Vulnerable ·GitLab
- cpe:2.3:a:gitlab:gitlab:16.8.0:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:* Versions 16.8.0 Vulnerable ·GitLab
Remediation
- Fix · CNA GitLab (GitLab) Fixed in 16.6.6, 16.7.4, 16.8.1
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
GitLab 16.6.6, 16.7.4, 16.8.1
4 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-05465 Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) in GitLabPriority MEDIUM 64
- TI-2023-05165 Missing Authorization in GitLabPriority LOW 38
- TI-2024-00417 Direct Request ('Forced Browsing') in GitLabPriority LOW 21
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-6159
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6hch-mpjp-2743
References
More Gitlab vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2023-6159 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-6159 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6hch-mpjp-2743 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences