CVE-2023-3399Public exploitNetwork attack vector

CI/CD variable disclosure via template import

Published Nov 6, 2023 · Updated Nov 20, 2025

Authorization bypass in GitLab EE 11.6 through 16.3.5, 16.4 through 16.4.1, and 16.5.0 lets remote authenticated users read CI/CD variables. Custom project creation internally imports a template and replaces a protected branch member's user ID with the importing Developer's ID, granting merge access. A group Developer can then add a pipeline that exports inherited group or subgroup variables and sends them to an attacker-controlled endpoint.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in GitLab EE 11.6 through 16.3.5, 16.4 through 16.4.1, and 16.5.0 lets remote authenticated users read CI/CD variables. Custom project creation internally imports a template and replaces a protected branch member's user ID with the importing Developer's ID, granting merge access. A group Developer can then add a pipeline that exports inherited group or subgroup variables and sends them to an attacker-controlled endpoint.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-3399
Published
Nov 6, 2023
Updated
Nov 20, 2025
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-201, T1048.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 20, 2025Record 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=11.6 <16.3.6
  2. Affected versionversion=16.4 <16.4.2
  3. Affected versionversion=16.5 <16.5.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=11.6 <16.3.6; version=16.4 <16.4.2; version=16.5 <16.5.1

Published CVSS scores

7.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
8.5GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/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 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-201Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data
T1048.003Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol

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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