GitLab Releases Critical Patch for XSS, DoS, and Account Takeover Bugs

GitLab, a leading DevOps platform, has released a critical security patch impacting both its Community (CE) and Enterprise (EE) editions, urging all self-managed users to update immediately.

The new versions—17.11.1, 17.10.5, and 17.9.7—address several high and medium-severity vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS), denial of service (DoS), and account takeover threats.

GitLab emphasizes the importance of prompt updates, especially for self-managed installations.

While GitLab.com and Dedicated customers are already protected, organizations running vulnerable versions risk exposure to sophisticated attacks if they delay upgrading.

“We strongly recommend all installations running an affected version to upgrade as soon as possible,” stated a GitLab spokesperson. “These patches are vital for maintaining the security integrity of user and project data.”

Critical Vulnerabilities Exploited

The patch addresses five distinct vulnerabilities—three rated as high severity and two as medium. The table below summarizes the key security fixes and their corresponding CVEs:

Title	Severity	CVE	Description
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in Maven Dependency Proxy through CSP directives	High	CVE-2025-1763	XSS and CSP bypass in Maven Proxy, allowing malicious code in user browsers.
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in Maven dependency proxy through cache headers	High	CVE-2025-2443	XSS via cache headers, enabling attackers to inject scripts under specific conditions.
Network Error Logging (NEL) Header Injection in Maven Dependency Proxy Allows Activity Monitoring	High	CVE-2025-1908	NEL header injection could allow attackers to track user browsing and potentially take accounts.
Denial of service (DOS) via issue preview	Medium	CVE-2025-0639	Attackers could crash services through crafted issue previews, impacting availability.
Unauthorized access to branch names when Repository assets are disabled	Medium	CVE-2024-12244	Users might access restricted branch names, bypassing intended project controls.

Vulnerability Details

• Two XSS Flaws (CVE-2025-1763, CVE-2025-2443): Both XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to exploit Maven dependency proxy features using either CSP directives or cache headers. These issues impact all versions from 16.6 up to the latest patched releases.
• NEL Header Injection (CVE-2025-1908): Attackers could inject malicious NEL headers, giving them the ability to track browser activities and, in some cases, take over user accounts.
• DoS via Issue Preview (CVE-2025-0639): Crafted issue previews could disrupt GitLab’s issue tracking, resulting in service downtime.
• Unauthorized Branch Name Access (CVE-2024-12244): Attackers might view branch names even when repository assets are disabled, leaking potentially sensitive project details.

GitLab has reiterated its commitment to transparency and rapid vulnerability response, crediting responsible disclosures from external security researchers via their HackerOne program.

All issue details will be published on GitLab’s public issue tracker 30 days after release. For best security practices, organizations should upgrade and follow GitLab’s recommendations on securing DevOps environments.

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