CVE-2026-58418 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2026
SSRF via HTTP Redirect in Repository Migration
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2026
Server-side request forgery vulnerabilities through http redirects during repository migration represent a critical security weakness that allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to internal systems. This vulnerability typically occurs when a web application performs repository migration operations and follows http redirects without proper validation of the redirect targets. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the migration process by crafting specific redirect chains that point to internal services or sensitive endpoints within the organization's network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's migration handler following http redirects from external sources without adequate sanitization or destination verification. When repository migration tools encounter redirect responses during data transfer operations, they may automatically follow these redirects without validating whether the target endpoint is authorized or safe. This behavior creates an attack surface where adversaries can craft malicious redirect chains that ultimately point to internal systems such as database servers, administrative interfaces, or other privileged endpoints. The vulnerability commonly manifests in applications that use http clients or libraries with default redirect handling behaviors that do not enforce strict destination validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration to include potential system compromise and lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access internal services that would normally be protected by network segmentation, potentially gaining access to databases, administrative interfaces, or other sensitive systems. During repository migration operations, the application may expose credentials or authentication tokens in redirect URLs, further amplifying the attack surface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where repository migration tools are frequently used and where internal network services are not properly isolated from external-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict redirect validation mechanisms that prevent automatic following of redirects to untrusted destinations. Organizations must enforce destination whitelisting for all redirect operations, particularly during sensitive processes like repository migration. The implementation should include comprehensive input validation that checks redirect targets against predefined safe lists and rejects any requests that attempt to redirect to internal network addresses or unauthorized external domains. Security controls should also incorporate proper authentication and authorization checks for all migration-related operations, ensuring that only authorized users can initiate repository migrations and that the tools follow strictly controlled paths.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918 which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.3 for application layer protocol traffic. The weakness demonstrates how insufficient input validation during automated processes creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate application behavior and gain unauthorized access to internal resources. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation, monitor redirect patterns in migration operations, and ensure that all redirect handling logic includes proper destination verification before following any redirection chains.
The remediation approach requires developers to modify existing migration code to explicitly validate redirect destinations and reject any requests that attempt to redirect to internal or unauthorized addresses. Security teams should establish monitoring protocols that detect unusual redirect patterns during repository operations and implement automatic alerts for suspicious redirection activities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level controls that prevent direct access to internal services from external-facing applications, creating additional barriers against exploitation of this vulnerability type. Regular security testing should include specific checks for redirect handling behaviors in all migration and data transfer functions to ensure that no similar vulnerabilities exist within the application ecosystem.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly innocuous redirect functionality can become a critical attack vector when not properly secured during sensitive operations like repository migration. Organizations must treat all redirect handling as potentially dangerous and implement comprehensive validation controls that prevent attackers from manipulating application behavior through carefully crafted redirect chains that ultimately lead to internal system compromise.