Common Misconfiguration
Exposed GitLab tokens can lead to unauthorized repository access, CI/CD pipeline manipulation, and container registry breaches. 😱Vulnerable Example
Secure Example
Detection Patterns
- GitLab Personal Access Token:
`glpat-[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20}` - GitLab Project Access Token:
`glpat-[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20}` - GitLab Group Access Token:
`glpat-[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20}` - GitLab Deploy Token Password:
`gldt-[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20}` - GitLab Runner Registration Token:
`GR1348941[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20}` - GitLab CI/CD Job Token (format):
`glc[i|j]t-[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20,}`(Note:$CI_JOB_TOKENitself is secure in context) - GitLab Trigger Token:
`gl[p|t]t-[0-9a-zA-Z]{20,}` - GitLab Feed Token:
`feed_token_[0-9a-zA-Z\-\_]{20,}`
Prevention Best Practices
- Use CI/CD Variables: Never hardcode tokens directly in your
.gitlab-ci.ymlor scripts. Store them in GitLab CI/CD Variables (Settings > CI/CD > Variables). ⚙️ - Mask & Protect Variables: For sensitive variables like API keys or deploy tokens, mark them as Masked (hides value in job logs, requires specific format) and Protected (only available on protected branches/tags). This significantly reduces exposure risk.
- Prefer Job Tokens (
$CI_JOB_TOKEN): Use the automatically available$CI_JOB_TOKENwhenever possible. It’s short-lived (only valid for the job’s duration) and has limited permissions scoped to the project. It’s ideal for accessing the project’s own container registry or package registry. - Implement Token Rotation: Regularly rotate all static tokens (Personal, Project, Group Access Tokens, Deploy Tokens). Define a schedule (e.g., every 90 days) and automate the rotation process if possible using the GitLab API.
- Use Project/Group Tokens over Personal: Avoid using Personal Access Tokens (PATs) for automation. PATs are tied to a user account and often have broad permissions. Use Project Access Tokens or Group Access Tokens instead, which are designed for automation and have more granular scope control.
- Enforce 2FA: Require Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all user accounts, especially those with Maintainer or Owner roles. This prevents account takeover, which could lead to token compromise.
- Monitor Audit Events: Regularly review GitLab’s Audit Events (Admin Area or Group/Project Settings) for suspicious activity related to token creation, usage, or CI/CD variable changes.
- Use Dependency Proxy: Enable GitLab’s Dependency Proxy to securely cache Docker Hub images. This reduces reliance on external registries and allows you to authenticate using the GitLab job token (
$CI_DEPENDENCY_PROXY_USER,$CI_DEPENDENCY_PROXY_PASSWORD).

