You probably want to patch this critical GitHub Enterprise Server bug now - The Register

If you’re a user of GitHub Enterprise Server, you should probably patch a critical bug that has been discovered in the software. The vulnerability, which affects the authentication mechanism of GitHub Enterprise Server, allows an attacker to bypass authentication and gain admin privileges on the affected system. This is a serious issue that could potentially expose sensitive data and allow malicious actors to take control of your system.

The flaw was discovered by security researchers at BleepingComputer, who reported it to GitHub. The company quickly released a patch to fix the vulnerability, which is now available for users to install. The patch addresses the issue by correcting the authentication mechanism and preventing unauthorized access to the system.

The vulnerability is caused by a misconfiguration in the authentication process, which allows an attacker to bypass the authentication step and gain admin privileges directly. This can be done by sending a specially crafted request to the server, which will then grant the attacker admin access without requiring proper authentication.

The implications of this vulnerability are severe. An attacker with admin privileges can potentially access sensitive data, modify code, and even take control of the entire system. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, and other serious consequences.

Fortunately, GitHub has responded quickly to the issue and released a patch to fix the vulnerability. Users are advised to install the patch immediately to protect their systems from potential attacks. The patch is available for download on GitHub’s website, and users can follow the installation instructions provided by GitHub to apply the patch.

It’s important to note that this vulnerability only affects GitHub Enterprise Server and not the free, open-source version of GitHub. However, users of both versions should still be cautious and take steps to protect their systems from potential attacks.

In conclusion, a critical bug has been discovered in GitHub Enterprise Server that allows an attacker to bypass authentication and gain admin privileges. Users are advised to install the patch released by GitHub immediately to protect their systems from potential attacks. This incident highlights the importance of keeping software up-to-date and taking security measures seriously.