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CVE-2026-96404

Gitea installer authentication bypass for existing accounts

8.1 HighFix available

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

0.58%Up 0.4 points since Oct 7, 2026
90%50%10%1%

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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
gitea
Bitnami
before 28.0.0
28.0.0

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE 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.

References

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