CVE-2026-26307 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2026
Gitea versions before 1.25.5 do not enforce a timeout on git grep searches, allowing expensive searches to consume server resources.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2026
The vulnerability in Gitea versions prior to 1.25.5 represents a significant resource exhaustion issue that undermines the platform's operational integrity and security posture. This flaw specifically affects the git grep functionality within the Gitea code repository management system, where the application fails to implement proper timeout mechanisms for search operations. The absence of timeout enforcement creates an avenue for malicious actors or negligent users to initiate computationally intensive searches that can monopolize server resources indefinitely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource management within the git grep command execution pathway. When users perform grep searches across repositories, the underlying git command executes without any time constraints, allowing for potentially infinite loops or overly complex regular expressions to consume CPU cycles and memory resources. This behavior aligns with CWE-400 vulnerability classification, which addresses unchecked resource consumption in software applications. The flaw particularly manifests when searching through large repositories or when users employ complex regular expressions that trigger expensive search algorithms within the git infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to encompass potential denial of service conditions that can compromise system availability. Attackers could exploit this weakness by submitting malicious search queries designed to consume excessive computational resources, effectively creating a resource exhaustion attack against the Gitea server. This scenario presents particular risks in multi-tenant environments where individual users could inadvertently or deliberately disrupt services for other repository users. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1496 technique for Resource Exhaustion, which specifically addresses methods of consuming system resources to deny access to legitimate users.
Organizations utilizing affected Gitea versions face substantial risks including service disruption, increased operational costs due to resource consumption, and potential compromise of repository integrity. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when combined with other attack vectors or when the server operates under high load conditions where additional resource consumption can quickly escalate into complete system unavailability. System administrators must consider both the immediate impact on performance metrics and the broader implications for service level agreements that depend on consistent availability.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Gitea version 1.25.5 or later, which implements proper timeout enforcement for git grep operations. This upgrade addresses the root cause by introducing configurable time limits for search operations, preventing any single query from consuming excessive resources. Additional protective measures include implementing rate limiting for search operations, monitoring resource consumption patterns, and configuring appropriate logging to detect anomalous search behavior. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls that can identify and block suspicious search patterns that exceed normal usage thresholds, providing defense-in-depth protection against potential exploitation attempts.