CVE-2026-16494 Missing Authorization in GitLab

High 7.1 Published 12 Aug 2026 Updated 13 Aug 2026

An authenticated user can modify restricted project settings due to missing authorization checks, allowing unauthorized configuration changes.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2026-16494?

CVE-2026-16494 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 12 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

GitLab has remediated an issue in GitLab EE affecting all versions from 19.1 before 19.1.4 and 19.2 before 19.2.2 that under certain conditions could have allowed an authenticated user to modify project settings restricted to higher-privileged roles, due to missing authorization checks on a project update endpoint.

Weakness: CWE-862

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16494?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including gitlab. It affects 1 product.

Package	Affected	Fixed in
`gitlab` Bitnami	From `19.1.0`	`19.1.4, 19.2.2`

Products include Gitlab Gitlab.

How do I fix CVE-2026-16494?

Upgrade gitlab to a fixed version for your release line: 19.1.4 or 19.2.2.

Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.

Is CVE-2026-16494 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16494 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Gitlab Gitlab vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as BIT-gitlab-2026-16494, GHSA-gww4-7jfh-v6mj, MINI-w265-5jq5-q6f4, MINI-xgrx-qrfp-7wpq.