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TI-2026-67084 Aliases GHSA-rjvx-x5h2-6px5

Gitea: API Fork Endpoint Authorization Bypass Allows Organization Members to Bypass Repository Creation Restrictions

Priority LOW 38CWE-863Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
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Privileges required
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User interaction
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Attack complexity
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Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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Fix status
Fixed

No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-863.

Summary

### Summary The API endpoint used to fork repositories into organizations performs a weaker authorization check than the corresponding web UI and other repository creation endpoints. When a repository is forked into an organization through the API, the endpoint only verifies that the user is an organization member (`IsOrgMember()`), but does not verify whether the user is allowed to create repositories in that organization (`CanCreateOrgRepo()`). As a result, organization members belonging to teams with `can_create_org_repo=false` can still create repositories inside the organization by using the fork API. ### Details Affected endpoint: ``` POST /api/v1/repos/{owner}/{repo}/forks ``` In `routers/api/v1/repo/fork.go`, the endpoint performs the following authorization check: ```go if !ctx.Doer.IsAdmin { isMember, err := org.IsOrgMember(ctx, ctx.Doer.ID) if !isMember { ctx.APIError(http.StatusForbidden, ...) return } } ``` The equivalent web UI implementation uses the stronger permission check: ```go isAllowedToFork, err := organization.OrgFromUser(ctxUser). CanCreateOrgRepo(ctx, ctx.Doer.ID) ``` The same `CanCreateOrgRepo()` authorization check is also used by: * CreateOrgRepo API endpoint * GenerateRepository API endpoint The fork endpoint appears to be the only repository creation path that relies solely on organization membership. ### Proof of Concept Tested on Gitea 1.23.7. 1. Create an organization. 2. Create a team with `can_create_org_repo=false`. 3. Add a test user to that team. 4. Verify that normal repository creation is denied: ```http POST /api/v1/orgs/target-org/repos ``` Result: ```http 403 Forbidden ``` 5. Fork a repository into the organization: ```http POST /api/v1/repos/admin/public-repo/forks Content-Type: application/json { "organization": "target-org" } ``` Result: ```http 202 Accepted ``` The repository is successfully created despite repository creation permissions being disabled. ### Impact Users who are organization members but are intentionally prevented from creating repositories can bypass that restriction through the API. This allows unauthorized repository creation inside the organization and may expose additional attack surface depending on the organization's Actions, runner, and workflow configuration. The vulnerability represents an authorization bypass because API behavior is less restrictive than both the web UI and other repository creation endpoints.

Why it matters now

Fix Fixed code.gitea.io/gitea (Go): 1.26.0

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—code.gitea.io/gitea (Go)before 1.26.01.26.0Patch availableGHSA-rjvx-x5h2-6px5
  • code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.26.0 Fixed in 1.26.0 Patch available GHSA-rjvx-x5h2-6px5

Remediation

  • Fix · GHSA-rjvx-x5h2-6px5 code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) Fixed in 1.26.0 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-rjvx-x5h2-6px5

References

Sources

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