CVE-2026-28744 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2026
Gitea versions up to and including 1.26.1 allow Git smart HTTP requests authenticated with bearer tokens to bypass repository token scope checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2026
This vulnerability affects Gitea versions through 1.26.1 and represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model for authenticated Git operations. The issue specifically impacts Git smart HTTP requests that utilize bearer tokens for authentication, where the system fails to properly validate repository access scopes associated with these tokens. This allows authenticated users to potentially access repositories or perform operations beyond their assigned token permissions, creating a significant privilege escalation vector.
The technical root cause stems from insufficient validation of token scope boundaries within the Git smart HTTP protocol implementation. When users authenticate using bearer tokens, the system should enforce strict access controls based on the scopes granted to each token. However, in affected versions, the authorization logic fails to properly verify that the requested repository operations align with the token's defined permissions, enabling unauthorized access patterns. This flaw operates at the intersection of authentication and authorization mechanisms, where valid credentials are used but not properly constrained by scope limitations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows attackers who have obtained valid bearer tokens to bypass intended access controls. An attacker could potentially clone or push to repositories they should not have access to, leading to data exposure, unauthorized modifications, or potential lateral movement within the code repository infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all Git smart HTTP operations including clone, push, and pull requests when using token-based authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on token-scoped access controls for their source code management.
Organizations using affected Gitea versions should immediately upgrade to patched releases that address this authorization bypass. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive review of existing bearer tokens and their associated scopes, implementing strict monitoring of Git operations, and ensuring proper token rotation practices are in place. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough access control audits to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred due to this vulnerability. This issue aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a specific implementation weakness in HTTP-based authentication handling that could be exploited through techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access tactics.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization checks can create critical security gaps in modern development infrastructure. Organizations should implement layered security controls including network segmentation, monitoring of Git operations, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of such flaws. Proper token management practices including least privilege principles, regular token rotation, and comprehensive audit logging become essential defensive measures against this type of access control bypass.