CVE-2025-2256 Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input in GitLab
Unauthorized users can render GitLab unresponsive by sending multiple concurrent large SAML responses, requiring administrators to upgrade to patched versions.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-2256?
CVE-2025-2256 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 12 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions from 7.12 before 18.1.6, 18.2 before 18.2.6, and 18.3 before 18.3.2 that could have allowed unauthorized users to render the GitLab instance unresponsive to legitimate users by sending multiple concurrent large SAML responses.
Weakness: CWE-1284
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-2256?
1 open source package ship an affected version, including gitlab. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
gitlab Bitnami | From 7.12.0 | 18.1.6, 18.2.6, 18.3.2 |
Products include Gitlab Gitlab.
How do I fix CVE-2025-2256?
Upgrade gitlab to a fixed version for your release line: 18.1.6, 18.2.6 or 18.3.2.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2025-2256 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-2256 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Gitlab Gitlab
- CVE-2026-97229 GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Integer Overflow or Wraparound
- CVE-2026-85706 GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Path Traversal
- CVE-2023-7028 GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Improper Access Control
- CVE-2021-22205 GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Remote Code Execution
- CVE-2021-39935 GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Sources
Also known as BIT-gitlab-2025-2256, GHSA-m8q6-f6pj-j3mh.