CVE-2021-22201Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated file disclosure via import validation

Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file read in GitLab CE/EE 13.9 through 13.9.4 and 13.10.0 allows remote authenticated users to read server files via project import. The importer passes attacker-controlled merge-request trailers data to JSON::Validator as a string, which is treated as a local pathname and returned through a failed-relation parse error. A valid account able to create and import a project is required, and disclosure is limited to files readable by the GitLab service account.

CVSS severity9.6
Critical
EPSS probability3.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file read in GitLab CE/EE 13.9 through 13.9.4 and 13.10.0 allows remote authenticated users to read server files via project import. The importer passes attacker-controlled merge-request trailers data to JSON::Validator as a string, which is treated as a local pathname and returned through a failed-relation parse error. A valid account able to create and import a project is required, and disclosure is limited to files readable by the GitLab service account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22201
Published
Apr 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=>=13.10, <13.10.1
  2. Affected versionversion=>=13.9, <13.9.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=>=13.10, <13.10.1; version=>=13.9, <13.9.5

Published CVSS scores

4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
9.6GitLabCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1005Data from Local System

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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