CVE-2026-58445 in Gitea
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
Cross-repository label-ID enumeration oracle via unscoped DeleteIssueLabel API
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2026
This vulnerability involves an insecure direct object reference condition within the DeleteIssueLabel API endpoint that allows unauthorized enumeration of issue labels across different repositories without proper access controls. The flaw stems from the API's failure to validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to delete labels in a specific repository, creating an oracle that reveals label identifiers and their associated metadata through repeated API calls. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-639 as Insecure Direct Object Reference, which enables attackers to bypass authorization mechanisms by directly accessing objects they should not be permitted to access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the DeleteIssueLabel API endpoint accepts a label identifier without performing proper repository scope validation. An attacker can exploit this by making multiple API requests with different label IDs and observing the responses, effectively enumerating all available labels across repositories they do not own or have access to. The oracle behavior manifests as distinct response patterns indicating success versus failure, allowing for systematic enumeration of label metadata including names, colors, and potentially associated issue counts. This enumeration capability enables attackers to gather intelligence about project structure, development practices, and potential targets for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. By enumerating labels, threat actors can identify sensitive project information such as bug tracking categories, feature flags, security-related labels, or development milestones that might not be otherwise visible. This intelligence gathering capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries collect metadata and structure information from repositories to plan subsequent attacks. The vulnerability also enables potential privilege escalation scenarios if the enumeration reveals labels associated with sensitive operations or administrative functions within the system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access controls and scope validation for all API endpoints that manipulate repository resources. The DeleteIssueLabel endpoint must validate that the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions to modify labels within the specified repository before processing any deletion requests. This includes enforcing repository-scoped authorization checks that ensure label operations occur only within the bounds of authorized repositories. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and request monitoring can help detect and prevent automated enumeration attempts. The solution should follow secure coding practices as recommended in CWE-639 guidelines, including proper input validation, access control enforcement, and defensive programming techniques to prevent unauthorized object access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing API key management and user authentication mechanisms that properly scope resource access to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities.