# CVE-2026-16794: Missing Authorization in GitLab

> An authenticated Security Manager can execute arbitrary CI/CD jobs and access protected variables due to improper authorization controls.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** BIT-gitlab-2026-16794, GHSA-cgh2-rmr4-c8fm, MINI-7373-839r-cfp8, MINI-qj56-9jc6-wc8v, MINI-v6rc-qr38-whpc

## What is CVE-2026-16794?

CVE-2026-16794 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 16 Sep 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 18.11 before 19.1.8, 19.2 before 19.2.6, and 19.3 before 19.3.2 that under certain conditions could have allowed an authenticated user with the Security Manager role to execute arbitrary CI/CD jobs and access protected variables within group projects due to improper authorization controls on compliance framework management.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16794?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `gitlab` | Bitnami | From 18.11.0 | 19.1.8, 19.2.6, 19.3.2 |

Products: Gitlab Gitlab.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-16794?

Upgrade gitlab to a fixed version for your release line: 19.1.8, 19.2.6 or 19.3.2.

## Is CVE-2026-16794 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16794 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Gitlab Gitlab

- [CVE-2026-97229](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-97229/): GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Integer Overflow or Wraparound (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-85706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85706/): GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition Path Traversal (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-7028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7028/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22205](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22205/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Remote Code Execution (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39935](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39935/): GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (medium 6.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-16794 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-16794 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Gitlab Gitlab, published on 16 Sep 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16794 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- gitlab (Bitnami): affected from 18.11.0; fixed in 19.1.8, 19.2.6, 19.3.2

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16794/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16794/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-16794
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16794
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-16794

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16794/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.