# CVE-2026-56654: Gitea privilege escalation via access token scope escalation in API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-56654-gitea-privilege-escalation-via-access-token-scope-escalation-in  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-21. Updated: 2026-07-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-56654 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-07-21

Gitea is an open-source platform for hosting software development projects. A security flaw in its programming interface (API) allows an attacker who has a limited-access token (such as one used for automated testing) to create a new, fully-privileged token. This allows the attacker to gain complete control over a user's account and data without needing to know their password.

Technologies: [Gitea](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gitea), [code.gitea.io/gitea (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/code-gitea-io-gitea), [gitea.dev (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gitea-dev). Vendors: [Gitea](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gitea), [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-56654 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-56654 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-56654?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 21 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Gitea < 1.27.0; code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) < 1.27.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.27.0; gitea.dev (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.27.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-56654?** Yes. code.gitea.io/gitea (Go): upgrade to 1.27.0 or later; gitea.dev (Go): upgrade to 1.27.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-56654 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-56654?** Check whether you run Gitea, code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) or gitea.dev (Go) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- code.gitea.io/gitea (Go): upgrade to 1.27.0 or later

  ```sh
  go get code.gitea.io/gitea@v1.27.0
  ```

- gitea.dev (Go): upgrade to 1.27.0 or later

  ```sh
  go get gitea.dev@v1.27.0
  ```


## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Gitea's API due to a logic error in the authentication middleware. The `reqBasicOrRevProxyAuth` middleware, intended to require password-based authentication for sensitive operations like token creation, can be bypassed by providing a Personal Access Token (PAT) in the `Authorization: Basic <token>:x-oauth-basic` format. The backend incorrectly sets `IsBasicAuth=true` for these requests. Furthermore, the `CreateAccessToken` handler fails to implement a 'scope ceiling' check, allowing a caller with a restricted token to mint a new token with the 'all' scope. This allows an attacker with any valid token to escalate to full account privileges. Fixed in version 1.27.0.

## Affected products

- Gitea Gitea < 1.27.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-56654
- GHSA-683j-3ff6-hh2x
- GO-2026-6034

## Timeline

- 2026-07-13: disclosed
- 2026-07-21: advisory

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz](https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz)
- [https://github.com/AdamKorcz](https://github.com/AdamKorcz)
- [https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/repos](https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/44787359?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/44787359?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/AdamKorcz/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [Gitea account takeover via OAuth2 auto-linking](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120263-when-oauth2-client-account-linking-is-set-to-auto-not-the)
- [Gitea limited-visibility profile disclosure via public-only token](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119627-the-web-profile-and-rss-atom-feed-routes-of-users-and)
- [Gitea token scope bypass in web routes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119625-the-username-web-route-accepted-personal-access-tokens-over-http)
- [Gitea project boards information disclosure of private pull requests](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119533-repository-and-organization-project-boards-listed-the-pull)
- [Gitea API token scope bypass in repository deletion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119441-delete-api-v1-orgs-org-repos-deletes-all-repositories-of-an)