Gitea up to 28.2.x Contribution Heatmap heatmap access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Gitea up to 28.2.x and classified as problematic. This affects an unknown function of the file /api/v1/users/{username}/heatmap of the component Contribution Heatmap. The manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-114199. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Gitea up to 28.2.x. This issue affects an unknown part of the file /api/v1/users/{username}/heatmap of the component Contribution Heatmap. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-284. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

`GET /api/v1/users/{username}/heatmap` computed the contribution heatmap with the repository access of the token owner and ignored the public-only restriction of the access token, unlike the activity feed endpoints. A holder of a user's public-only token could read contribution counts and their 15-minute time buckets that stem from that user's activity in private repositories. Repository names and contents were not disclosed. For public-only tokens the heatmap now only counts activity visible to anonymous users.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-114199 since 11/01/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 28.3.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-4281). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source Gitea

Productinfo

Name

• Gitea

Version

• 28.0
• 28.1
• 28.2

License

• open-source

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CPE 2.2info

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Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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