If your organization operates an affected self-hosted GitLab AI Gateway, temporarily turn off the relevant GitLab Duo AI-native features by setting each feature to Disabled in the GitLab Self-Managed admin settings. Then upgrade the Gateway to the fixed release for its version branch as soon as possible. Leaving a feature’s model unselected does not disable it.
First, check whether your deployment needs action
GitLab’s October 2026 critical patch advisory covers CVE-2026-90970. Under certain conditions, an authenticated user with Duo Agent Platform access could use a specially crafted flow configuration to escape the prompt-template sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the AI Gateway. GitLab rates the vulnerability CVSS 9.9 (CVSS 3.1; vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H). Read GitLab’s critical patch advisory.
The advisory applies to the AI Gateway version, not simply the GitLab instance version. Check which Gateway your deployment uses, identify its installed version and release line, and compare it with GitLab’s affected ranges:
- Versions from 18.1.6 up to, but not including, 19.2.4.
- Versions in the 19.3 line before 19.3.2.
- Versions in the 19.4 line before 19.4.1.
GitLab lists 19.2.4, 19.3.2, and 19.4.1 as fixed releases. These are branch-specific targets, not interchangeable version numbers: upgrade to the fix for the release line you run.
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GitLab-hosted Gateway or self-hosted Gateway?
| Deployment | What GitLab says | Relevant action |
|---|---|---|
| GitLab.com, GitLab Dedicated, or Self-Managed using a GitLab-hosted Gateway | GitLab says its hosted Gateways have received the fix and are protected. | No customer action is needed for this vulnerability, according to the advisory. |
| Self-hosted AI Gateway in an affected version range | The customer operates the affected Gateway. | Disable relevant AI-native features as temporary containment if the upgrade cannot happen immediately, then upgrade to the applicable fixed release. |
Turn off GitLab Duo features in the admin settings
GitLab documents a per-feature control for turning off GitLab Duo features. In your GitLab Self-Managed instance, follow this path:
- Open Admin.
- Select GitLab Duo.
- Open Configure models for GitLab Duo.
- Select the AI-native features tab.
- For each feature you intend to stop, set its model dropdown to Disabled.
GitLab explicitly cautions that Duo features remain turned on when no model has been chosen. A blank or unset model is not an adequate substitute for selecting Disabled. See GitLab’s guide to configuring GitLab Duo features.
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Choose the scope carefully
The documented setting is per feature. GitLab’s advisory describes the vulnerable flow and template path but does not provide a feature-by-feature shutdown list. Do not assume that disabling one feature, hiding a user-interface entry, or changing an unrelated feature flag blocks every route to the vulnerable Gateway. If you cannot determine which enabled AI-native features reach your self-hosted Gateway, disable all relevant features while you confirm the configuration and scope with GitLab’s documentation or support.
Upgrade the Gateway to its branch’s fixed release
Feature shutdown is an interim measure; it is not a replacement for installing the patch. Use the fixed version that corresponds to the Gateway’s release line: 19.2.4, 19.3.2, or 19.4.1. GitLab’s AI Gateway installation guide describes installing and updating the Gateway Docker image. Follow the procedure applicable to your deployment, and verify the resulting Gateway version as part of your change process.
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After the patched Gateway is running and verified, re-enable only the features your organization needs, following its normal change process. This sequencing is operational guidance; GitLab’s advisory itself urges affected self-hosted installations to upgrade as soon as possible.
Use outbound network restrictions as additional containment
GitLab’s installation guide recommends restricting the Gateway container’s outbound network access. This can add a layer of containment, but restrictive rules can also interrupt normal operation. Account for the documented dependencies before changing firewall policy:
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- The GitLab instance URL configured through
AIGW_GITLAB_URL. - The endpoints for the configured model providers.
customers.gitlab.comfor license validation, unless you use an offline license.
Test firewall changes in a non-production environment first. Network restrictions are defense in depth, not a substitute for upgrading the affected Gateway.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not rely on a generic feature flag
GitLab documents Rails console commands for disabling individual feature flags, including Feature.disable(:flag_name). Flags are specific to individual features and can change or be removed as features mature. That generic mechanism does not establish a universal “disable the AI Gateway” flag. Unless GitLab documents and verifies a specific flag for the feature in question, use the per-feature Disabled setting in the GitLab Duo administration page. See the feature flags administration guide.
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