# CVE-2026-89078: GitLab double free in regular expression parser

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-89078-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ce-ee-affecting-all  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-24. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-89078 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.9 · Published 2026-09-24

GitLab is a development platform that manages source code and CI/CD pipelines. An authenticated user can execute arbitrary code on the GitLab server by providing a specially crafted regular expression in CI/CD configuration. This allows an attacker with access to the platform to take complete control of the GitLab instance and access all hosted projects and data.

Technologies: [GitLab Community Edition](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gitlab-ce), [GitLab Enterprise Edition](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gitlab-ee). Vendors: [GitLab](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gitlab).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-89078 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-89078 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-89078?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.9, published 24 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** GitLab Community Edition 19.2 before 19.2.7, 19.3 before 19.3.3, 19.4 before 19.4.1; GitLab Enterprise Edition 19.2 before 19.2.7, 19.3 before 19.3.3, 19.4 before 19.4.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-89078?** A patch was published on 2026-09-23: Patched in GitLab CE/EE versions 19.2.7, 19.3.3, and 19.4.1 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-89078 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-89078?** Check whether you run GitLab Community Edition or GitLab Enterprise Edition at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A double free vulnerability in GitLab's regular expression parser allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary code when processing specially crafted regexes in CI/CD configuration files. The vulnerability is reachable via network from any authenticated user without user interaction required. An attacker gains code execution on the GitLab server with full system privileges; patches are available in versions 19.2.7, 19.3.3, and 19.4.1.

## Affected products

- GitLab GitLab Community Edition 19.2 before 19.2.7, 19.3 before 19.3.3, 19.4 before 19.4.1
- GitLab GitLab Enterprise Edition 19.2 before 19.2.7, 19.3 before 19.3.3, 19.4 before 19.4.1

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: disclosed: Vulnerability disclosed in GitLab security release
- 2026-09-23: patched: Patched in GitLab CE/EE versions 19.2.7, 19.3.3, and 19.4.1

## References

- [https://docs.gitlab.com/releases/patches/patch-release-gitlab-19-4-1-released/](https://docs.gitlab.com/releases/patches/patch-release-gitlab-19-4-1-released/)
- [https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/work_items/628577](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/work_items/628577)

## Related threats

- [GitLab EE incomplete enforcement of SAML/LDAP membership lock](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16255-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ee-affecting-all)
- [GitLab cache poisoning in OAuth/OIDC discovery](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112212-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ce-ee-affecting-all)
- [GitLab EE prompt injection in AI agent instructions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96893-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ee-affecting-all)
- [GitLab CE/EE improper authorization in package registry](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-5954-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ce-ee-affecting-all)
- [GitLab improper authorization in downstream pipeline creation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16301-gitlab-has-remediated-an-issue-in-gitlab-ce-ee-affecting-all)