Security Bulletin
Summary
IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway allows authenticated users with developer privileges to supply a jq program in the tool jsonpath_filter field that executes unrestricted built-in such as `$ENV` inside the server process, exposing environment variables including cryptographic keys and database credentials that can be leveraged to forge administrator tokens
Vulnerability Details
CVEID: CVE-2026-18486
DESCRIPTION: MCP Context Forge could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive credentials and escalate privileges due to improper validation of jq filters.
CWE: CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CVSS Source: IBM
CVSS Base score: 8.8
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Affected Products and Versions
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
|
IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway
| <= v1.0.7 |
Remediation/Fixes
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
| Product(s) | Version(s) number and/or range | Remediation/Fix/Instructions |
| IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway | <=v1.0.7 | Upgrade to v1.0.8. See [release notes](https://github.com/IBM/mcp-context-forge/releases/tag/v1.0.8). Rotate `JWT_SECRET_KEY`, `AUTH_ENCRYPTION_SECRET`, `DATABASE_URL`, `REDIS_URL`, and `BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD` on any deployment running prior versions. |
Note: From version v1.0.8 on a more complex AUTH_ENCRYPTION_SECRET is required:
Action required before upgrading: run the one-shot re-encryption script (mcpgateway/scripts/migrate_enc_secret.py) with the old and new keys while the gateway is stopped. See the full rotation guide at docs/docs/operations/auth-encryption-secret-rotation.md for step-by-step instructions, deployment-specific commands, and special cases (Helm/Kubernetes, Python package consumers, rollback).
Workarounds and Mitigations
Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins
References
1. Action required before upgrading - re-encrypt data with a more secure encryption key: run the one-shot re-encryption script (mcpgateway/scripts/migrate_enc_secret.py) with the old and new keys while the gateway is stopped. See the full rotation guide at docs/docs/operations/auth-encryption-secret-rotation.md for step-by-step instructions, deployment-specific commands, and special cases (Helm/Kubernetes, Python package consumers, rollback).
2. Fixing PR: https://github.com/IBM/mcp-context-forge/pull/6205
Acknowledgement
Change History
02 Sep 2026: Initial Publication
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
02 September 2026
Initial Publish date:
02 September 2026
UID
ibm17286052