CVE-2026-26194 in Gogs
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2026
Gogs is an open source self-hosted Git service. Prior to version 0.14.2, there's a security issue in gogs where deleting a release can fail if a user controlled tag name is passed to git without the right separator, this lets git options get injected and mess with the process. This issue has been patched in version 0.14.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-26194 affects Gogs, an open source self-hosted Git service that provides repository management capabilities for organizations seeking to maintain their own Git infrastructure. This security flaw exists in versions prior to 0.14.2 and represents a significant concern for system administrators who rely on Gogs for their version control needs. The issue stems from improper input validation within the release deletion functionality, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate Git operations.
The technical flaw manifests when a user-controlled tag name is passed to Git commands without proper separator handling during the release deletion process. This insufficient sanitization allows for command injection attacks where Git options can be injected into the process execution. The vulnerability specifically exploits the absence of proper argument separation mechanisms, enabling attackers to manipulate how Git interprets command line arguments. When a maliciously crafted tag name is provided, it can contain characters or sequences that Git interprets as additional command options rather than simple tag identifiers. This misinterpretation leads to unintended Git operations being executed with potentially elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command injection, as it could enable attackers to perform unauthorized Git operations such as creating, modifying, or deleting repositories, branches, or tags within the affected system. This represents a critical compromise of the Git service's integrity and confidentiality, potentially allowing unauthorized access to source code repositories and version history. The vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in environments where Gogs serves as a central code repository for multiple projects, as a successful exploitation could result in widespread data manipulation or complete repository compromise. Attackers could leverage this issue to gain persistent access to sensitive codebases and potentially escalate privileges within the system.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a classic command injection scenario. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the Git command line interface. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Gogs is designed for self-hosted environments where security controls may be less stringent than in enterprise-grade solutions. Organizations using older versions of Gogs should prioritize immediate patching to prevent potential exploitation, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to achieve persistent access to source code repositories and undermine the integrity of development workflows. The fix implemented in version 0.14.2 addresses the core issue by enforcing proper argument separation and input validation when processing user-controlled tag names during release deletion operations.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of input validation in Git-based systems and demonstrate how seemingly minor implementation flaws can lead to significant security risks. Organizations should implement comprehensive security testing procedures that include validation of user inputs in all Git operations, particularly those involving repository management functions. Regular security updates and patch management processes become essential for maintaining the integrity of self-hosted Git services, as this vulnerability shows how easily command injection can occur when proper sanitization measures are not implemented. The incident underscores the need for robust security practices in open source software deployment, where the responsibility for maintaining security often falls on the implementing organization rather than the software vendor.