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CVE-2026-20912 Gitea CVE debrief

CVE-2026-20912 is a critical vulnerability in Gitea, a popular open-source software development platform. The issue arises from Gitea's improper validation of repository ownership when linking attachments to releases. This flaw could potentially allow an attachment uploaded to a private repository to be linked to a release in a different public repository, making it accessible to unauthorized users. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.1 and is considered critical. Gitea has addressed this issue in version 1.25.4. Users of affected versions should update to 1.25.4 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.

Vendor
Gitea
Product
Gitea Open Source Git Server
CVSS
CRITICAL 9.1
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-01-22
Original CVE updated
2026-07-15
Advisory published
2026-01-22
Advisory updated
2026-07-15

Who should care

Administrators and users of Gitea instances, especially those hosting private repositories, should be aware of this vulnerability. Developers and DevOps teams using Gitea for their projects should prioritize updating to the latest version to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Additionally, security teams responsible for monitoring and patching vulnerabilities in software development tools should add CVE-2026-20912 to their priority list.

Technical summary

The vulnerability in Gitea allows for unauthorized access to attachments linked to releases due to improper validation of repository ownership. This issue is particularly severe as it can expose sensitive information from private repositories to unauthorized users. The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N, indicating a high impact on confidentiality and integrity. Gitea has released version 1.25.4, which addresses this vulnerability. The fix involves proper validation of repository ownership when linking attachments to releases, ensuring that only authorized users can access attachments.

Defensive priority

High. This vulnerability requires immediate attention, especially for Gitea instances hosting private repositories. Updating to version 1.25.4 or later is crucial to prevent exploitation.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update Gitea to version 1.25.4 or later.
  • Review and audit repository permissions and access controls.
  • Monitor Gitea instance logs for suspicious activity.
  • Implement additional security measures, such as restricting access to sensitive repositories.
  • Verify that all attachments linked to releases are properly validated for repository ownership.

Evidence notes

The CVE-2026-20912 vulnerability is well-documented in various sources, including the official CVE record and NVD details. Gitea has provided release notes and patches for the affected versions. Red Hat has also documented this vulnerability in their security advisories. The information available confirms the critical nature of this vulnerability and the importance of prompt mitigation.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-20912 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20912

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-20912 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20912

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://blog.gitea.com/release-of-1.25.4/

    88ee5874-cf24-4952-aea0-31affedb7ff2 - Release Notes

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/pull/36320

    88ee5874-cf24-4952-aea0-31affedb7ff2 - Issue Tracking, Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/pull/36355

    88ee5874-cf24-4952-aea0-31affedb7ff2 - Issue Tracking, Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/tag/v1.25.4

    88ee5874-cf24-4952-aea0-31affedb7ff2 - Release Notes

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/security/advisories/GHSA-vfmv-f93v-37mw

    88ee5874-cf24-4952-aea0-31affedb7ff2 - Broken Link

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-20912

    0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c

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.