CVE-2026-33312: Code.vikunja.io/api Vikunja Read-only Users Can Delete Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-564f-wx8x-878h
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-33312 is a MODERATE vikunja read-only users can delete vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Code.vikunja.io/api libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves vikunja read-only users can delete project background images via broken object-level authorization. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.2.0.

CVE-2026-33312 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-33312
GHSA Identifier GHSA-564f-wx8x-878h
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Code.vikunja.io/api
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-33312

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Code.vikunja.io/api dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

code.vikunja.io/api fixed: 2.2.0
Upgrade code.vikunja.io/api to 2.2.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

inspect dependencies for code.vikunja.io/api

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-33312, inspect your project dependencies for Code.vikunja.io/api:

inspect dependencies for code.vikunja.io/api

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Code.vikunja.io/api in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization, where 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. In Code.vikunja.io/api, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

## Summary The `DELETE /api/v1/projects/:project/background` endpoint checks `CanRead` permission instead of `CanUpdate`, allowing any user with read-only access to a project to permanently delete its background image. ## Details The `RemoveProjectBackground` handler (`pkg/modules/background/handler/background.go`) reuses `checkProjectBackgroundRights`, a helper originally written for the read-only `GetProjectBackground` endpoint. This helper only verifies `CanRead` permission. In contrast, the handler for *setting* a background (`setBackgroundPreparations`) correctly checks `CanUpdate`. As a result, destructive write operations (deleting the background file from storage and clearing the project's `background_file_id` and `background_blur_hash` fields) are gated behind a read-only permission check. ## Impact A user with read-only access to a project — via direct sharing, team membership, link share tokens with read permission, or read-scoped API tokens — can permanently delete the project's background image. The background file is removed from storage and cannot be recovered. This constitutes unauthorized data destruction. ## Reproduction 1. User A creates a project and sets a background image. 2. User A shares the project with User B with **read-only** permission. 3. User B sends: `DELETE /api/v1/projects/{project_id}/background` with a valid auth token. 4. The request succeeds. The background image is permanently deleted. ## References - `pkg/modules/background/handler/background.go` — `RemoveProjectBackground` (line 416), `checkProjectBackgroundRights` (line 304), `setBackgroundPreparations` (line 106) - `pkg/routes/routes.go` line 665 — route registration ## Credits This vulnerability was found using [GitHub Security Lab Taskflows](https://github.com/GitHubSecurityLab/seclab-taskflows).

CVE-2026-33312 Affected Code.vikunja.io/api Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
code.vikunja.io/api
Go
≥ 0.20.2
< 2.2.0
2.2.0

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-33312?
CVE-2026-33312 is a security vulnerability in Code.vikunja.io/api involving Vikunja read-only users can delete project background images via broken object-level authorization under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Code.vikunja.io/api versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.2.0 across affected packages: code.vikunja.io/api.
What version fixes CVE-2026-33312?
Upgrading to 2.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is code.vikunja.io/api affected?
Yes, code.vikunja.io/api is affected in releases prior to 2.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.2.0 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-33312?
CVE-2026-33312 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (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.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-33312?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for code.vikunja.io/api'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-564f-wx8x-878h",
  "modified" : "2026-03-20T17:25:21Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-20T17:25:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-33312" ],
  "summary" : "Vikunja read-only users can delete project background images via broken object-level authorization",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nThe `DELETE /api/v1/projects/:project/background` endpoint checks `CanRead` permission instead of `CanUpdate`, allowing any user with read-only access to a project to permanently delete its background image.\n\n## Details\n\nThe `RemoveProjectBackground` handler (`pkg/modules/background/handler/background.go`) reuses `checkProjectBackgroundRights`, a helper originally written for the read-only `GetProjectBackground` endpoint. This helper only verifies `CanRead` permission. In contrast, the handler for *setting* a background (`setBackgroundPreparations`) correctly checks `CanUpdate`.\n\nAs a result, destructive write operations (deleting the background file from storage and clearing the project's `background_file_id` and `background_blur_hash` fields) are gated behind a read-only permission check.\n\n## Impact\n\nA user with read-only access to a project — via direct sharing, team membership, link share tokens with read permission, or read-scoped API tokens — can permanently delete the project's background image. The background file is removed from storage and cannot be recovered. This constitutes unauthorized data destruction.\n\n## Reproduction\n\n1. User A creates a project and sets a background image.\n2. User A shares the project with User B with **read-only** permission.\n3. User B sends: `DELETE /api/v1/projects/{project_id}/background` with a valid auth token.\n4. The request succeeds. The background image is permanently deleted.\n\n## References\n\n- `pkg/modules/background/handler/background.go` — `RemoveProjectBackground` (line 416), `checkProjectBackgroundRights` (line 304), `setBackgroundPreparations` (line 106)\n- `pkg/routes/routes.go` line 665 — route registration\n\n## Credits\n\nThis vulnerability was found using [GitHub Security Lab Taskflows](https://github.com/GitHubSecurityLab/seclab-taskflows).",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "code.vikunja.io/api"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.20.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/go-vikunja/vikunja/security/advisories/GHSA-564f-wx8x-878h"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33312"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/go-vikunja/vikunja"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://vikunja.io/changelog/vikunja-v2.2.0-was-released"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-20T17:25:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-20T15:16:18Z"
  }
}