GHSA-wrr5-99h5-gq57 Gitea: Public-only tokens bypass private-resource restrictions on `/api/v1/user` self routes
SummaryMany authenticated self routes under `/api/v1/user/...` do not enforce the `public-only` token restriction. As a result, a token or OAuth grant marked `public-only`, but otherwise carrying the route-required read/write scope category, can access or modify private account resources through self routes.The canonical private-user endpoint correctly rejects the same tokens, for example `GET /api/v1/users/{privateUser}` returns `403`. The bypass exists because the generic `/api/v1/user` route group requires user scope and `reqToken()`, but does not enforce the token's public-only restriction for most self routes.This is a systemic token/OAuth scope-boundary bypass, not a single endpoint bug.This appears related to the previously fixed public-only token issue tracked as [CVE-2025-68941 / GHSA-xfq3-qj7j-4565](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-xfq3-qj7j-4565), which affected Gitea `< 1.22.3`. The behavior described here reproduces on tested main checkout `6a2706626904`. A representative SSH-key self-route PoC also reproduces on tested releases through v1.26.1. In other words, this should be treated as an incomplete fix / residual gap in a different route family, not as a duplicate of the older advisory.Affected CodeThe generic `/api/v1/user` group is mounted with user scope and `reqToken()`:`routers/api/v1/api.go:1008-1128``tokenRequiresScopes()` sets `ctx.PublicOnly` when the token contains `public-only`, but the public-only restriction is enforced only by routes that also call `checkTokenPublicOnly()`:`routers/api/v1/api.go:241-294` implements `checkTokenPublicOnly()`.`routers/api/v1/api.go:299-341` sets `ctx.PublicOnly` from the token scope.Representative affected routes in that group:`/api/v1/user`: private self profile and settings.`/api/v1/user/emails`: read, add, and delete account email addresses.`/api/v1/user/keys`: list and add SSH public keys.`/api/v1/user/applications/oauth2`: list and create OAuth2 applications, including returned client secrets.`/api/v1/user/actions/secrets/{secretname}`: create or delete user-level Actions secrets.`/api/v1/user/actions/variables`: list, read, create, update, and delete user-level Actions variables.`/api/v1/user/actions/runners/...`: list, update, delete runners, and mint registration tokens.`/api/v1/user/actions/runs` and `/api/v1/user/actions/jobs`: list workflow metadata for private repositories.`/api/v1/user/repos`: create private repositories and list private repositories.`/api/v1/user/subscriptions`, `/api/v1/user/times`, `/api/v1/user/stopwatches`, `/api/v1/user/teams`, `/api/v1/user/hooks`: leak or modify private-account resources.Correct public-only enforcement for comparison:`routers/api/v1/api.go:970-1008` applies `context.UserAssignmentAPI()` and `checkTokenPublicOnly()` to canonical `/api/v1/users/{username}` routes.`routers/api/v1/user/user.go:122-125` rejects public-only access to private users on `/api/v1/users/{username}`.`routers/api/v1/api.go:1091-1092` shows that `/api/v1/user/repos` requires the additional repository scope category, but still does not apply `checkTokenPublicOnly()`.Local PoCsThe following dynamic PoCs were retested on checkout `6a2706626904` and all reproduced successfully. Each PoC writes a temporary integration test, runs it, and removes it afterward.Reproduced Impact ExamplesUsing private fixture user `user31`, public-only tokens are rejected by `GET /api/v1/users/user31`, but tokens with the route-required scopes can still reach the self routes below.Confirmed with `public-only,write:user`:add SSH keys through `/api/v1/user/keys`;add account emails through `/api/v1/user/emails`;create OAuth2 applications and receive `client_secret` through `/api/v1/user/applications/oauth2`;create/delete user-level Actions secrets;create/read/list/update/delete user-level Actions variables;mint user-level runner registration tokens;manage user-level runners;create user webhooks.Confirmed with `public-only,read:user`:read private self profile/settings and account email surfaces;list OAuth2 applications and user webhooks;list private repository workflow runs/jobs exposed through self Actions routes;list private subscriptions, tracked times, stopwatches, and team memberships.Confirmed with `public-only` plus the route-required repository category:create private repositories through `POST /api/v1/user/repos` with `public-only,write:user,write:repository`;list those private repositories through `GET /api/v1/user/repos` with `public-only,read:user,read:repository`, while the canonical private repository endpoint remains forbidden.ImpactThe `public-only` token flag is intended to limit a token or OAuth grant to public resources. These routes violate that boundary for private accounts.Practical abuse scenarios include:a third-party app or leaked token with the route-required write scope, but restricted to public resources, adding SSH credentials or OAuth applications to a private account;a public-resource-restricted token with the route-required write scope modifying Actions secrets/variables or registering/managing runners;a token limited to public resources creating and enumerating private repositories;a supposedly public-only integration learning private repository, workflow, team, timing, subscription, webhook, and email metadata.Suggested FixApply public-only enforcement consistently to self routes under `/api/v1/user`.At minimum:for self routes, treat `ctx.Doer` as the target user/resource owner when enforcing `public-only`; mechanically adding `checkTokenPublicOnly()` is not sufficient unless `ctx.ContextUser` is set to `ctx.Doer` or the check explicitly handles self routes;reject `ctx.PublicOnly` on credential, identity, OAuth application, repository creation, webhook, Actions, runner, and email-management self-route mutations;filter list routes so public-only tokens cannot return private repositories, private organization/team metadata, private workflow runs/jobs, private tracked time, private stopwatches, or hidden subscriptions;add regression coverage that compares each affected `/api/v1/user/...` route against the canonical private-user or private-repository endpoint.Non-public-only tokens should preserve current behavior.Attachment: `api_public_only_user_ssh_key_bypass_dynamic_poc.go`Attachment: `api_public_only_user_oauth_app_bypass_dynamic_poc.go`Attachment: `api_public_only_user_repos_private_repo_bypass_dynamic_poc.go`Attachment: `api_public_only_user_actions_secret_variable_bypass_dynamic_poc.go`Attachment: `api_public_only_user_runner_registration_bypass_dynamic_poc.go`Version validationValidation date: 2026-05-13The SSH-key write PoC was used as the representative dynamic test for the systemic `/api/v1/user` self-route public-only bypass.| Version | Commit | Result |
|---|---:|---|
| main | `6a2706626904` | reproduced dynamically |
| v1.26.1 | `afdbd9b7c5` | reproduced dynamically |
| v1.25.5 | `f913d90ab6` | reproduced dynamically |
| v1.24.7 | `99053ce4fa` | reproduced dynamically |
| v1.23.8 | `cccd54999a` | reproduced dynamically |
| v1.22.6 | `8eefa1f6de` | reproduced dynamically with Go 1.22.12 test toolchain |The representative version-matrix PoC validates the same root cause across tested releases for the SSH-key self-route write surface. The additional lead/supporting PoCs above were retested on the main checkout listed in the Local PoCs section.
CVSS v3.1 score: 8.1