CVE-2024-4784Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Merge request approval via skipped password validation

Published Aug 8, 2024 · Updated Aug 29, 2024

Authentication bypass in GitLab EE allows remote authenticated users to approve merge requests without required re-authentication. The mr_approval_setting_password_required? method omits the merge request's require_password_to_approve? value, so the approval service accepts blank or invalid passwords and the approve quick action. Exploitation requires an eligible approver session and a policy project with password re-entry enabled; approval can permit a merge and downstream CI/CD execution.

CVSS severity4.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in GitLab EE allows remote authenticated users to approve merge requests without required re-authentication. The mr_approval_setting_password_required? method omits the merge request's require_password_to_approve? value, so the approval service accepts blank or invalid passwords and the approve quick action. Exploitation requires an eligible approver session and a policy project with password re-entry enabled; approval can permit a merge and downstream CI/CD execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-4784
Published
Aug 8, 2024
Updated
Aug 29, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-305, CWE-287, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 8, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 29, 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=16.7 <17.0.6
  2. Affected versionversion=17.1 <17.1.4
  3. Affected versionversion=17.2 <17.2.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=16.7 <17.0.6; version=17.1 <17.1.4; version=17.2 <17.2.2

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.2GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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.

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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-305Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness
CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1078Valid Accounts

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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