CVE-2021-39913

Root-account takeover via plaintext migration logging

Published Nov 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Sensitive-data logging in GitLab CE/EE before 14.2.6, 14.3.0 through 14.3.3, and 14.4.0 allows local users to obtain the root password. The production database seed fixture prints the configured initial root password in plaintext while migrations run, placing the credential in the migration log. Access to the local filesystem or a shipped copy of that log is required; the exposed credential grants GitLab root-account privileges.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sensitive-data logging in GitLab CE/EE before 14.2.6, 14.3.0 through 14.3.3, and 14.4.0 allows local users to obtain the root password. The production database seed fixture prints the configured initial root password in plaintext while migrations run, placing the credential in the migration log. Access to the local filesystem or a shipped copy of that log is required; the exposed credential grants GitLab root-account privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39913
Published
Nov 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-532, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 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=<14.2.6
  2. Affected versionversion=>=14.3, <14.3.4
  3. Affected versionversion=>=14.4, <14.4.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=<14.2.6; version=>=14.3, <14.3.4; version=>=14.4, <14.4.1

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
4.4GitLabCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-532Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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