CVE-2026-26231 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2026
Gitea versions up to and including 1.26.1 allow the Allow edits from maintainers permission path to authorize commits to repositories that the user can read but should not be able to write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2026
This vulnerability in Gitea versions up to and including 1.26.1 represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the repository permission model. The issue stems from improper validation of user permissions within the "Allow edits from maintainers" feature, which is designed to permit collaborative contributions while maintaining security boundaries. When this permission path is enabled, it fails to properly enforce write access restrictions, allowing users who possess read-only access to repositories to make unauthorized commits through the maintainer edit functionality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient boundary checks implemented within Gitea's permission validation system. Specifically, the software does not adequately verify whether a user has explicit write permissions before permitting them to utilize the maintainer editing capabilities. This flaw creates a privilege escalation scenario where users can bypass normal repository access controls and inject code or modify content that they should not be authorized to change. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern how users interact with repository contents, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the access control framework.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized modifications to include potential data corruption, security breaches, and compliance violations. Attackers could exploit this weakness to inject malicious code into repositories, modify existing files without proper authorization, or manipulate project history. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely on Gitea for code management and collaboration, as it undermines the trust model that developers expect when working with version control systems. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive source code, potential backdoor insertion, and disruption of development workflows.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically targeting weak permissions and inadequate access validation mechanisms. From an ATT&CK perspective, this issue maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage system configuration flaws to gain elevated access rights. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Gitea version 1.26.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this permission validation flaw. Additionally, administrators should review and audit existing repository permissions, disable unnecessary maintainer edit features for sensitive repositories, and monitor repository activity for unauthorized modifications. Regular security assessments of version control systems and implementation of automated access control monitoring can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.