CVE-2026-103059

Gitea built-in SSH server authentication bypass through key case folding

Published Oct 6, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
When Gitea's built-in SSH server is enabled (`START_SSH_SERVER = true`), the presented public key was looked up with an SQL `LIKE` comparison of its encoded content, which is case-insensitive on some databases, including the default SQLite. An attacker who can construct a case variant of another user's registered RSA public key for which they can derive the private key could have that key matched to the victim's account and authenticate over SSH as that user. Keys are now looked up by fingerprint.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:gitea:gitea:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-287
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-305
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Gitea
Gitea gitea
Vendors & Products Gitea
Gitea gitea
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-287
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When Gitea's built-in SSH server is enabled (`START_SSH_SERVER = true`), the presented public key was looked up with an SQL `LIKE` comparison of its encoded content, which is case-insensitive on some databases, including the default SQLite. An attacker who can construct a case variant of another user's registered RSA public key for which they can derive the private key could have that key matched to the victim's account and authenticate over SSH as that user. Keys are now looked up by fingerprint.
Title Gitea built-in SSH server authentication bypass through key case folding
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Gitea
Published
Updated
Oct 7, 2026, 2:17 PM
Reserved
Oct 4, 2026, 9:57 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Oct 6, 2026, 8:17 PM
Modified
Oct 15, 2026, 2:26 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Oct 6, 2026, 7:22 PM