CVE-2026-96404
Gitea installer authentication bypass for existing accounts
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.1
Gitea installer authentication bypass for existing accounts
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
- Record
CVE-2026-96404- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-93923
8.1
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
- Record
EUVD-2026-93923- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.1
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
- Record
CVE-2026-96404- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.1
Gitea installer authentication bypass for existing accounts
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
- Record
CVE-2026-96404- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-gitea-2026-96404 No score
Gitea installer authentication bypass for existing accounts
When Gitea's web installer is reachable against a database that already contains users, such as after INSTALL_LOCK has been reset to false, submitting the install form with an administrator username matching an existing account issued an authenticated session for that account without verifying its password. If the account is an administrator, the session grants full administrative access, including changing the account's password. Databases with a single user also did not require the reinstall confirmation.
- Record
BIT-gitea-2026-96404- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
giteaBitnami |
before 28.0.0 | 28.0.0 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-96404 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Gitea, published October 6, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.58%, the 48th percentile. Fixed in gitea 28.0.0.