CVE-2026-66380 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
An authenticated user without repository read permission may access private OCI referrer metadata under specific conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in container registry implementations that violates fundamental security principles governing private repository isolation. The issue occurs when an authenticated user who lacks proper read permissions for a repository can still retrieve OCI referrer metadata, which contains sensitive information about container image dependencies and associated artifacts. This condition typically arises from improper authorization checks during metadata retrieval operations where the system fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to access the underlying repository data. The flaw demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and can be categorized under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate permission validation mechanisms during OCI registry operations. When users request referrer metadata through standard registry APIs, the system should verify both authentication credentials and repository access permissions before returning any metadata information. However, in affected implementations, the authorization layer fails to properly enforce repository read permissions during referrer metadata queries, allowing unauthorized access to dependency information that may include sensitive build artifacts, vulnerability assessments, or other confidential data associated with container images. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system assumes that authenticated users automatically possess appropriate access rights to related metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the exposed metadata for further exploitation. An attacker could use the accessible referrer data to identify potential targets within a registry, discover vulnerable dependencies, or map out the organizational container infrastructure. This information could then be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or gain access to additional repository resources. The exposure of referrer metadata can also reveal internal build processes and artifact relationships that may not be intended for public consumption, potentially exposing intellectual property or development practices.
Mitigation strategies must address both the immediate authorization gap and broader architectural security concerns within container registry implementations. Organizations should implement robust permission validation mechanisms that enforce repository access controls during all metadata operations, ensuring that referrer queries require proper read permissions before returning any information. The solution involves strengthening API endpoint security through comprehensive authentication verification and access control checks that align with established security frameworks such as those recommended by the Open Container Initiative. Regular security auditing of registry implementations should include thorough testing of authorization boundaries to prevent similar issues from persisting in production environments, while also implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive metadata resources.