CVE-2026-20896 | defend.network

What is CVE-2026-20896?

Gitea Docker image versions up to and including 1.26.2 use REVERSE_PROXY_TRUSTED_PROXIES=* by default, allowing any source IP to impersonate a user when reverse-proxy authentication headers such as X-WEBAUTH-USER are enabled.

CVSS9.8 NVD 3.1

SeverityCRITICAL

Exploitation In the wild

EPSS1% · P52

Triage statusActive Exploit

ActionPatch within 48 hours

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

NVD published2026-07-03

NVD last modified2026-07-07

Timeline

2026-07-03Published to the U.S. National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-07-07First covered in a defend.network daily briefing
2026-07-07NVD record last updated

Affected product

See advisory

Remediation Steps

Apply the vendor security update for Gitea as a priority.
Restrict network exposure of the affected service to trusted sources until patched.
Review logs and detections for indicators of exploitation.
Confirm fixed versions against the official vendor advisory before deploying.

References

Referenced in our briefings & reports

Vulnerability Priority Report – Week 1 of July 2026 (July 6 – 12)
GitHub, Gitea, Google Dialogflow hit by active exploits; RedWing Android malware-as-service (2026-07-08)
Adobe ColdFusion RCE, Linux KVM escape, Gitea authentication bypass under active attack (2026-07-07)

Browse all tracked CVEs in the defend.network CVE database →

🤖 This CVE page is generated by defend.network from NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS, and our verified daily briefings. Severity and exploitation data come from official sources; always verify remediation steps against the official vendor advisory before acting in production.