# CVE-2023-3401: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') in GitLab

> An attacker can inject malicious code into GitLab repositories by using a specially designed branch name, leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 14 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BIT-gitlab-2023-3401, GHSA-722v-49rj-hh57, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-3401

## What is CVE-2023-3401?

CVE-2023-3401 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 2 Aug 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions before 16.0.8, all versions starting from 16.1 before 16.1.3, all versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.2. The main branch of a repository with a specially designed name allows an attacker to create repositories with malicious code.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-3401?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including gitlab. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `gitlab` | Bitnami | All versions | 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2 |

Products: Gitlab Gitlab.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-3401?

Upgrade gitlab to a fixed version for your release line: 16.0.8, 16.1.3 or 16.2.2.

## Is CVE-2023-3401 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-3401 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Gitlab Gitlab

- [CVE-2026-97229](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-97229/): GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Integer Overflow or Wraparound (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-85706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85706/): GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Path Traversal (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-7028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7028/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22205](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22205/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Remote Code Execution (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39935](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39935/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (medium 6.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-3401 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-3401 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 2 Aug 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-3401 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- gitlab (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 16.0.8, 16.1.3, 16.2.2

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3401/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3401/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3401
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3401
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-3401

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3401/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.