CVE-2026-31801 zot create-only policy allows overwrite attempts of existing latest tag (update permission not required)
Attackers with create permissions can overwrite existing 'latest' tags in zot registry without update permissions, bypassing authorization controls.
- 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-2026-31801?
CVE-2026-31801 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in project-zot zot, published on 10 Mar 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
zot is ancontainer image/artifact registry based on the Open Container Initiative Distribution Specification. From 1.3.0 to 2.1.14, zot’s dist-spec authorization middleware infers the required action for PUT /v2/{name}/manifests/{reference} as create by default, and only switches to update when the tag already exists and reference != "latest". As a result, when latest already exists, a user who is allowed to create (but not allowed to update) can still pass the authorization check for an overwrite attempt of latest. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.1.15.
Weakness: CWE-863
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31801?
6 open source packages ship an affected version, including zotregistry.dev/zot and zotregistry.dev/zot/v2. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
zotregistry.dev/zot Go | All versions | None |
zotregistry.dev/zot Go | From 1.3.0-20210831063041-c8779d9e87d9 to 1.4.4-20251014054906-73eef25681af | None |
zotregistry.dev/zot Go | From 1.3.0-20210831063041-c8779d9e87d9 to 1.4.4-20251014054906-73eef25681af | None |
zotregistry.dev/zot/v2 Go | All versions | 2.1.15 |
zotregistry.dev/zot/v2 Go | All versions | 2.1.15 |
zotregistry.dev/zot/v2 Go | All versions | 2.1.15 |
Products include Zotregistry Zot.
How do I fix CVE-2026-31801?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2026-31801 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-31801 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in project-zot zot
Sources
Also known as GHSA-85jx-fm8m-x8c6, GO-2026-4668.