---
title: "CVE-2026-96404: Gitea - Authentication Bypass"
description: "Gitea contains an authentication bypass caused by the web installer issuing sessions for existing users without password verification when INSTALL_LOCK is false, letting attackers gain admin access, exploit requires installer access."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-96404/
---

# CVE-2026-96404 Gitea - Authentication Bypass

Gitea contains an authentication bypass caused by the web installer issuing sessions for existing users without password verification when INSTALL\_LOCK is false, letting attackers gain admin access, exploit requires installer access.

CVSS base score 8.1 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

Proof of concept available

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.44% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96404)

## Details

Type

Authentication Bypass

Impact

Broken Authentication

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

6 October 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-287](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/287.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest version where INSTALL\_LOCK cannot be reset or installer access is secured.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96404](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96404)
- [https://blog.gitea.com/release-of-28.0.0/](https://blog.gitea.com/release-of-28.0.0/)
- [https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/pull/39400](https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/pull/39400)
- [https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/tag/v28.0.0](https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/tag/v28.0.0)
- [https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/security/advisories/GHSA-9h7g-h754-c8x2](https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/security/advisories/GHSA-9h7g-h754-c8x2)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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