CVE-2026-119546 in Forgejo
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Forgejo through 15.0.11, 16.0.0 through 16.0.7, and 17.0.0 through 17.0.1 contains a path traversal vulnerability in restore-repo that allows attackers to read files outside the dump directory via crafted asset paths. Attackers can supply a dump whose release.yml DownloadURL or PatchURL contains ../ sequences, importing files like app.ini as release attachments when an administrator restores it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within the restore-repo functionality of Forgejo versions through 15.0.11, 16.0.0 through 16.0.7, and 17.0.0 through 17.0.1. This security defect allows authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the underlying server filesystem by exploiting improper validation of asset paths during repository restoration operations. The core technical flaw lies in the handling of download URLs or patch URLs contained within a dump file's release.yml configuration. When an administrator initiates the restore process, Forgejo attempts to fetch assets specified in these URLs and attach them to the restored releases. However, the application fails to adequately sanitize input that includes directory traversal sequences such as ../. This lack of rigorous path normalization enables an attacker to construct malicious payloads that escape the intended dump directory scope. By embedding relative path navigation characters within the DownloadURL or PatchURL fields of a crafted release.yml file, an adversary can direct the restoration process to access sensitive system files located outside the designated backup storage area.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for unauthorized data exfiltration and configuration disclosure. An attacker who possesses valid credentials with sufficient privileges to create or modify repository dumps can engineer a malicious dump file containing these crafted URLs. Upon submission, if an administrator with appropriate permissions proceeds to restore the repository from this compromised backup, the Forgejo application will inadvertently retrieve files from arbitrary locations on the host system. This mechanism effectively bypasses standard access controls that restrict file operations to specific directories. The most critical risk involves the exposure of sensitive configuration files such as app.ini, which typically contains database credentials, secret keys, and other authentication tokens essential for the platform's operation. Compromise of these configurations could lead to full account takeover, persistence within the environment, or further lateral movement across connected systems.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes scenarios where software does not properly neutralize special elements that can cause paths to transition outside of intended directories. Furthermore, the exploitation technique maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK tactic T1083: File and Directory Discovery, specifically under sub-technique techniques used for gathering system information in pre-compromise or post-exploitation phases. The attack vector leverages social engineering elements by requiring an administrator to perform a restoration action based on the attacker's provided artifact, which classifies it within broader categories of supply chain compromise or trusted installer abuse depending on how the dump was acquired.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary defense is upgrading Forgejo to version 15.0.12, 16.0.8, or later where this path traversal issue has been addressed through enhanced input validation and strict path canonicalization before file system access occurs. Administrators should also implement least-privilege principles by restricting which users can create repository dumps that are subsequently restored by others, thereby reducing the attack surface for such social engineering vectors. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls with rules capable of detecting directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests may provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts while patching is being applied. Regular audits of dump files and strict validation of all external URLs before processing are recommended practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from impacting system integrity.