CVE-2025-14594: GitLab Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CVE-2025-14594 Overview

CVE-2025-14594 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting GitLab CE/EE that allows authenticated users to view certain pipeline values through API queries under specific conditions. This vulnerability stems from an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw classified as CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key), enabling unauthorized access to pipeline data that should be restricted.

Critical Impact

Authenticated users can potentially access sensitive pipeline configuration values and secrets through improper API authorization checks, potentially exposing CI/CD workflow data.

Affected Products

• GitLab CE/EE versions from 17.11 before 18.6.6
• GitLab CE/EE versions 18.7 before 18.7.4
• GitLab CE/EE versions 18.8 before 18.8.4

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-10 - GitLab releases security patch in version 18.8.4
• 2026-02-11 - CVE CVE-2025-14594 published to NVD
• 2026-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14594

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents an authorization bypass through user-controlled key (CWE-639), commonly known as an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR). The flaw exists in GitLab's pipeline API endpoint handling, where insufficient authorization checks allow authenticated users to query and retrieve pipeline values that should be restricted based on project membership or permissions.

The vulnerability requires authenticated access and user interaction to exploit successfully. While the impact is limited to information disclosure with no integrity or availability impact, the exposure of pipeline values could reveal sensitive CI/CD configuration data, environment variables, or deployment secrets that organizations may have stored in their pipelines.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper authorization validation within GitLab's API layer when processing requests for pipeline data. The API fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to access specific pipeline values, allowing authorization bypass through manipulation of user-controlled identifiers in API requests.

Attack Vector

The attack requires an authenticated user to craft specific API queries targeting pipeline resources. By manipulating resource identifiers in API requests, an attacker can potentially access pipeline values belonging to projects or pipelines they should not have visibility into. The network-based attack vector with low complexity makes this accessible to any authenticated GitLab user, though user interaction is required for successful exploitation.

The vulnerability mechanism involves querying the GitLab API with specific parameters that bypass normal authorization checks. Attackers can enumerate pipeline IDs or project identifiers to discover and retrieve pipeline values from resources outside their authorized scope. For detailed technical information, refer to GitLab Issue #583967 and the HackerOne Report #3457591.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14594

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual API query patterns targeting pipeline endpoints from authenticated users
• Elevated volume of pipeline API requests with sequential or enumerated resource IDs
• Access logs showing pipeline value retrievals for projects where the user lacks membership
• API requests attempting to access pipeline data across multiple unrelated projects

Detection Strategies

• Monitor GitLab API logs for anomalous pipeline query patterns, particularly requests with unusual parameter combinations
• Implement rate limiting and anomaly detection on pipeline-related API endpoints
• Review access logs for authenticated users accessing pipeline data outside their project scope
• Configure alerts for bulk API queries targeting pipeline resources

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive API access logging in GitLab for pipeline-related endpoints
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect unusual pipeline data access patterns
• Set up monitoring for failed authorization attempts on pipeline resources
• Review and audit API access patterns regularly for signs of enumeration attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14594

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade GitLab CE/EE to version 18.8.4, 18.7.4, or 18.6.6 depending on your current version branch
• Review API access logs for any suspicious pipeline query activity
• Audit pipeline configurations for sensitive values that may have been exposed
• Consider rotating any secrets or credentials stored in potentially affected pipelines

Patch Information

GitLab has released patched versions addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to the following versions:

• Version 18.8.4 for those on the 18.8.x branch
• Version 18.7.4 for those on the 18.7.x branch
• Version 18.6.6 for those on the 17.11.x through 18.6.x branches

Detailed patch information is available in the GitLab Patch Release Notes.

Workarounds

• Restrict API access to trusted networks or users until patches can be applied
• Implement additional API gateway controls to monitor and limit pipeline-related queries
• Review and minimize sensitive data stored in pipeline variables where possible
• Enable additional authentication factors for API access in enterprise deployments

# Verify your GitLab version and upgrade
gitlab-rake gitlab:env:info | grep "GitLab:"

# Upgrade GitLab to patched version (Omnibus installation)
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gitlab-ce=18.8.4-ce.0

# Review recent API access logs for pipeline endpoints
sudo gitlab-ctl tail gitlab-rails/api_json.log | grep -i pipeline