# CVE-2026-76081: ZITADEL: Improper Role Revocation on Granted Projects during Multiple Role Deletions

> Attackers retain unauthorized access to shared projects due to a bug in ZITADEL's role deletion logic, requiring an upgrade to fix.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 15 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v859-c572-qh5p, GO-2026-6473

## What is CVE-2026-76081?

CVE-2026-76081 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in zitadel, published on 14 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ZITADEL is an open source identity management platform. Prior to version 4.16.0, a bug in how ZITADEL updates permissions when multiple project roles are deleted at the same time can cause some user permissions to be missed. This issue specifically affects User Grants on Granted Projects (projects shared between different organizations), potentially allowing users to keep access rights that were supposed to be completely removed. This issue has been fully resolved in version 4.16.0. There are no configuration workarounds. Upgrading to a patched version is the only way to trigger the automatic cleanup migration. Those who cannot upgrade immediately should manually review user permissions specifically for Granted Projects where multiple roles were recently deleted.

Weakness: CWE-193 (Off-by-one Error)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-76081?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/zitadel/zitadel.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/zitadel/zitadel` | Go | All versions | None |
| `github.com/zitadel/zitadel` | Go | All versions | 4.16.0 |
| `github.com/zitadel/zitadel` | Go | All versions | 4.16.0 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-76081?

Upgrade github.com/zitadel/zitadel to 4.16.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-76081 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-76081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-76081 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-76081 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in zitadel, published on 14 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-76081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 4.16.0
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 4.16.0

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-2026-76081/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76081/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-76081
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-76081
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-76081

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76081/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.