CVE-2026-16494Network attack vector

Restricted settings modification via unchecked update endpoint

Published Aug 12, 2026 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Missing authorization in GitLab EE 19.1 through 19.1.3 and 19.2 through 19.2.1 allows remote authenticated users to alter restricted project settings. ProjectsController accepts project update requests without the authorization checks required for settings reserved to higher-privileged roles. A valid low-privilege account and unspecified additional conditions are required; successful requests can alter protected configuration, while the affected settings remain undisclosed.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in GitLab EE 19.1 through 19.1.3 and 19.2 through 19.2.1 allows remote authenticated users to alter restricted project settings. ProjectsController accepts project update requests without the authorization checks required for settings reserved to higher-privileged roles. A valid low-privilege account and unspecified additional conditions are required; successful requests can alter protected configuration, while the affected settings remain undisclosed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16494
Published
Aug 12, 2026
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-862
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=19.1 <19.1.4
  2. Affected versionversion=19.2 <19.2.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=19.1 <19.1.4; version=19.2 <19.2.2

Published CVSS scores

7.1GitLabCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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