CVE-2019-5474Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Approval-rule override via unchecked nested parameters

Published Jan 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect authorization in GitLab EE before 11.11.6, 12.0.4, or 12.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to override approval rules. The merge-request update endpoint accepts attacker-supplied approval_rules_attributes parameters even when project settings forbid rule changes. Developer-level project access and an editable merge request are required; exploitation can reduce required approvals or add attacker-chosen approvers.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in GitLab EE before 11.11.6, 12.0.4, or 12.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to override approval rules. The merge-request update endpoint accepts attacker-supplied approval_rules_attributes parameters even when project settings forbid rule changes. Developer-level project access and an editable merge request are required; exploitation can reduce required approvals or add attacker-chosen approvers.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-5474
Published
Jan 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab EE
Classifications
CWE-284, CWE-863
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before 11.11.6
  2. Affected versionversion=before 12.0.4
  3. Affected versionversion=before 12.1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLab EEversion=before 11.11.6; version=before 12.0.4; version=before 12.1.2

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
CWE-863Incorrect Authorization

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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