CVE-2026-31801
Authorization Bypass in zot dist-spec Middleware Allows Overwrite
Publication date: 2026-03-10
Last updated on: 2026-03-18
Assigner: GitHub, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| zotregistry | zot | From 1.3.0 (inc) to 2.1.15 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-863 | The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in zot, a container image/artifact registry, specifically in its dist-spec authorization middleware versions from 1.3.0 to 2.1.14. The middleware incorrectly infers the required action for the PUT request to update manifests. It defaults to 'create' unless the tag already exists and the reference is not 'latest'. Because of this, if the 'latest' tag already exists, a user who has permission to create but not update can still overwrite the 'latest' tag, bypassing the intended authorization checks.
This issue was fixed in version 2.1.15 of zot.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability allows a user with create permissions, but without update permissions, to overwrite the 'latest' tag in the container registry. This can lead to unauthorized modification of container images or artifacts, potentially introducing malicious or unintended content into the registry.
Such unauthorized overwrites can compromise the integrity of container images used in deployments, leading to security risks such as running compromised containers or disrupting application behavior.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
I don't know
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, upgrade zot to version 2.1.15 or later, where the issue has been fixed.