CVE-2026-116296 Gitea CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for Gitea instances, especially those with users having write access to archived repositories, should assess exposure and prioritize verification and mitigation.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-116296 allows unauthorized modifications to archived repositories in Gitea instances, impacting data integrity and confidentiality.

• Potential unauthorized modifications to archived repositories.
• Possible deletion or replacement of release assets.
• Potential creation, editing or deletion of milestones and labels.

Technical summary

The API routes for releases, release assets, milestones, and repository labels in Gitea did not reject changes to archived repositories. A user with write access to an archived repository could replace or delete release assets, delete releases and tags, and create, edit, or delete milestones and labels. This issue allows unauthorized modifications to archived repositories, impacting data integrity and confidentiality. Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure of Gitea instances to unauthorized modifications, especially for users with write access to archived repositories.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure of Gitea instances to unauthorized modifications, especially for users with write access to archived repositories.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify Gitea instances for exposure to unauthorized modifications, especially for users with write access to archived repositories.
• Restrict write access to archived repositories.
• Monitor Gitea instance logs for suspicious activity related to archived repositories.
• Apply patches or updates provided by Gitea to fix the issue.
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified.
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented.

Evidence notes

Evidence from Gitea and NIST NVD indicates that API routes did not properly handle changes to archived repositories, allowing unauthorized modifications. Defenders should verify Gitea instances for exposure, focusing on users with write access to archived repositories, and monitor for suspicious activity. Official CVE and NVD records provide additional context.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.