Security Bulletin
Summary
IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway contains three password configuration fields (`platform_admin_password`, `default_user_password`, and `basic_auth_password`) that ship with the publicly known default value `"changeme"`. When an operator enables basic authentication (`api_allow_basic_auth`) or the administrative UI (`mcpgateway_ui_enabled`) without explicitly setting the corresponding password, the gateway accepts this known default credential and produces only a startup warning rather than refusing to start — in contrast to the fail-closed treatment already applied to `jwt_secret_key` in version 1.0.7.
Vulnerability Details
CVEID: CVE-2026-78573
DESCRIPTION: MCP Context Forge could allow a remote attacker to gain administrative access due to the use of default credentials.
CWE: CWE-1392: Use of Default Credentials
CVSS Source: IBM
CVSS Base score: 9.8
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Affected Products and Versions
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
| IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway | v1.0.0 - 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 | v1.0.0 - v1.0.9 | Upgrade to v1.0.10. See release notes. Additionally, ensure platform_admin_password, default_user_password, and basic_auth_password are set to strong, non-default values before enabling api_allow_basic_auth or mcpgateway_ui_enabled. |
Note: <Component A / B names> are bundled with <Product profile name> to provide <feature / function description>
Workarounds and Mitigations
On a default deployment, api_allow_basic_auth and mcpgateway_ui_enabled are both set to False, which prevents the default credentials from being exposed through an active authentication path. Operators who have not enabled either of these features are not immediately at risk. If upgrading is not immediately possible, ensure both features remain disabled until the password fields are set to strong, operator-defined values.
Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins
References
Acknowledgement
Change History
09 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
Was this topic helpful?
Document Information
Modified date:
09 September 2026
Initial Publish date:
09 September 2026
UID
ibm17286834