CVE-2026-58441 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
SSRF in restore-repo via unsanitized pull_request.yml Head.CloneURL
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2026
Server-side request forgery vulnerabilities in software systems represent critical security weaknesses that allow attackers to manipulate backend servers into making unintended requests to internal or external resources. This particular vulnerability exists within the restore-repo functionality where the pull_request.yml file's Head.CloneURL parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in server operations. The flaw enables malicious actors to craft specially crafted pull request files that contain manipulated clone URLs, potentially directing the system to access internal network resources or external malicious endpoints.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the codebase. When the system processes a pull request file, it directly incorporates the Head.CloneURL value into subsequent network operations without proper verification of its contents or origin. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can influence the destination of network requests, bypassing normal access controls and security boundaries that would typically protect internal systems from external access attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration scenarios to encompass potential internal network reconnaissance and lateral movement capabilities. An attacker could leverage this flaw to probe internal services, access sensitive endpoints that should remain isolated from public exposure, or even establish command and control channels through carefully crafted URLs that redirect requests to malicious infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the interface between user-provided data and system network operations, creating a direct pathway for unauthorized resource access.
Security controls and mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation and sanitization mechanisms for all external inputs, particularly those used in network operations. Organizations must establish robust parameter validation that checks URL formats against known safe patterns and rejects any malformed or suspicious entries. The implementation of network-level restrictions and outbound traffic controls can provide additional defense layers, while proper access control measures should limit what internal resources can be accessed through the vulnerable functionality. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918 which specifically addresses server-side request forgery conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling, highlighting the need for comprehensive network traffic monitoring and validation.
The root cause analysis reveals that this represents a classic case of insufficient data sanitization in web applications processing user-provided content. The system fails to distinguish between legitimate repository URLs and potentially malicious inputs that could be used to compromise internal systems. Proper remediation requires implementing a whitelist-based validation approach where only pre-approved URL patterns are accepted, combined with network segmentation controls that prevent unauthorized access to internal resources even if the vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, automated security scanning tools should be configured to detect similar patterns in other code paths that handle external inputs for network operations.
Organizations must also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring mechanisms around repository operations to detect anomalous request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly simple input handling can create significant security risks when proper validation controls are missing from the system architecture. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews focusing on all external input processing pathways, particularly those involving network operations or resource access functions where similar vulnerabilities might exist in other components of the software ecosystem.