CVE-2021-39871Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthorized project creation via unchecked importer setting

Published Oct 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper authorization in GitLab allows remote authenticated users to create projects through a disabled Bitbucket Server importer. The POST /api/v4/import/bitbucket_server route schedules an import without checking whether the administrator removed bitbucket_server from the allowed import sources. A regular account with API access and reachable Bitbucket credentials is sufficient; exploitation creates an unauthorized project and changes instance data.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.93%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in GitLab allows remote authenticated users to create projects through a disabled Bitbucket Server importer. The POST /api/v4/import/bitbucket_server route schedules an import without checking whether the administrator removed bitbucket_server from the allowed import sources. A regular account with API access and reachable Bitbucket credentials is sufficient; exploitation creates an unauthorized project and changes instance data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39871
Published
Oct 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-285, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 4, 2021CVE 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=>=13.0, <14.1.7
  2. Affected versionversion=>=14.2, <14.2.5
  3. Affected versionversion=>=14.3, <14.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=>=13.0, <14.1.7; version=>=14.2, <14.2.5; version=>=14.3, <14.3.1

Published CVSS scores

4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N
4.3GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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

CWE-285Improper Authorization
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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