CVE-2021-39909

Name: CVE-2021-39909
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2021-11-05T00:15:11.147+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 5.3/10EPSS 0.59%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2021-39909 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 5.3/10 on the CVSS scale. Lack of email address ownership verification in the CODEOWNERS feature in all versions of GitLab EE starting from 11.3 before 14.2.6, all versions starting from 14.3 before 14.3.4, and all versions starting from 14.4 before 14.4.1 allows an attacker to bypass CODEOWNERS Merge Request approval requirement under rare circumstances. EPSS estimates a 0.59% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Lack of email address ownership verification in the CODEOWNERS feature in all versions of GitLab EE starting from 11.3 before 14.2.6, all versions starting from 14.3 before 14.3.4, and all versions starting from 14.4 before 14.4.1 allows an attacker to bypass CODEOWNERS Merge Request approval requirement under rare circumstances

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.3/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS Probability

0.59%

43.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-347

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Gitlab	Gitlab	>= 11.3.0, < 14.2.6
Gitlab	Gitlab	>= 14.3.0, < 14.3.4
Gitlab	Gitlab	14.4.0
Gitlab	Gitlab	>= 11.2.0, < 14.3.4
Gitlab	Gitlab	>= 11.3.0, < 14.4.1

References

https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-39909.jsonVendor Advisory
https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/335191Broken Link
https://hackerone.com/reports/1237750Permissions Required, Third Party Advisory
https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-39909.jsonVendor Advisory
https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/335191Broken Link
https://hackerone.com/reports/1237750Permissions Required, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-39909?

How severe is CVE-2021-39909?

CVE-2021-39909 has a CVSS score of 5.3/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.59% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-39909?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2021-39909?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST