Search

Find a vulnerability

Search criteria

    2 vulnerabilities by cdeust

    CVE-2026-49986 (GCVE-0-2026-49986)

    Vulnerability from nvd – Published: 2026-08-14 16:21 – Updated: 2026-08-17 19:35
    VLAI
    Title
    Cortex has Untrusted Project Bootstrap Code Execution via `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR`
    Summary
    The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable — automatically set by Claude Code to the currently open project directory — as a trusted Cortex developer checkout. When the `open_visualization` tool is invoked, `_find_dev_source()` resolves the user's active project directory as a candidate Cortex source root. The only validation performed by `_is_cortex_root()` is a check for the presence of an `mcp_server/` subdirectory and a `ui/unified-viz.html` file. An attacker who places these two marker files in a malicious repository can cause Cortex to execute an arbitrary `mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py` from that directory via `subprocess.run([sys.executable, ...])`, achieving code execution with the privileges of the victim's local user process. Version 3.17.1 fixes the issue.
    Severity
    7.1 (High)
    CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
    SSVC
    Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
    CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
    Decision recorded 2026-08-17 19:35 UTC
    CWE
    • CWE-829 - Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
    Assigner
    References
    Impacted products
    Vendor Product Version
    cdeust Cortex Affected: < 3.17.1
    		Create a notification for this product.
    Show details on NVD website
    To clipboard 

    {
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-49986",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-08-17T19:35:41.212124Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T19:35:51.570Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "exploit"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Cortex",
          "vendor": "cdeust",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 3.17.1"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable \u2014 automatically set by Claude Code to the currently open project directory \u2014 as a trusted Cortex developer checkout. When the `open_visualization` tool is invoked, `_find_dev_source()` resolves the user\u0027s active project directory as a candidate Cortex source root. The only validation performed by `_is_cortex_root()` is a check for the presence of an `mcp_server/` subdirectory and a `ui/unified-viz.html` file. An attacker who places these two marker files in a malicious repository can cause Cortex to execute an arbitrary `mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py` from that directory via `subprocess.run([sys.executable, ...])`, achieving code execution with the privileges of the victim\u0027s local user process. Version 3.17.1 fixes the issue."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseScore": 7.1,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-829",
              "description": "CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-14T16:21:39.125Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/releases/tag/v3.17.1",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/releases/tag/v3.17.1"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/neuro-cortex-memory/PYSEC-2026-2676.yaml",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/neuro-cortex-memory/PYSEC-2026-2676.yaml"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Cortex has Untrusted Project Bootstrap Code Execution via `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR`"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-49986",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-14T16:21:39.125Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-02T18:30:51.282Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T19:35:51.570Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

    CVE-2026-49986 (GCVE-0-2026-49986)

    Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-14 16:21 – Updated: 2026-08-17 19:35
    VLAI
    Title
    Cortex has Untrusted Project Bootstrap Code Execution via `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR`
    Summary
    The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable — automatically set by Claude Code to the currently open project directory — as a trusted Cortex developer checkout. When the `open_visualization` tool is invoked, `_find_dev_source()` resolves the user's active project directory as a candidate Cortex source root. The only validation performed by `_is_cortex_root()` is a check for the presence of an `mcp_server/` subdirectory and a `ui/unified-viz.html` file. An attacker who places these two marker files in a malicious repository can cause Cortex to execute an arbitrary `mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py` from that directory via `subprocess.run([sys.executable, ...])`, achieving code execution with the privileges of the victim's local user process. Version 3.17.1 fixes the issue.
    Severity
    7.1 (High)
    CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
    SSVC
    Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
    CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
    Decision recorded 2026-08-17 19:35 UTC
    CWE
    • CWE-829 - Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
    Assigner
    References
    Impacted products
    Vendor Product Version
    cdeust Cortex Affected: < 3.17.1
    		Create a notification for this product.
    Show details on NVD website
    To clipboard 

    {
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-49986",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-08-17T19:35:41.212124Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T19:35:51.570Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "exploit"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Cortex",
          "vendor": "cdeust",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 3.17.1"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable \u2014 automatically set by Claude Code to the currently open project directory \u2014 as a trusted Cortex developer checkout. When the `open_visualization` tool is invoked, `_find_dev_source()` resolves the user\u0027s active project directory as a candidate Cortex source root. The only validation performed by `_is_cortex_root()` is a check for the presence of an `mcp_server/` subdirectory and a `ui/unified-viz.html` file. An attacker who places these two marker files in a malicious repository can cause Cortex to execute an arbitrary `mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py` from that directory via `subprocess.run([sys.executable, ...])`, achieving code execution with the privileges of the victim\u0027s local user process. Version 3.17.1 fixes the issue."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseScore": 7.1,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-829",
              "description": "CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-14T16:21:39.125Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/security/advisories/GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/releases/tag/v3.17.1",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/releases/tag/v3.17.1"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/neuro-cortex-memory/PYSEC-2026-2676.yaml",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/neuro-cortex-memory/PYSEC-2026-2676.yaml"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-gvpp-v77h-5w8g",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Cortex has Untrusted Project Bootstrap Code Execution via `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR`"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-49986",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-14T16:21:39.125Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-02T18:30:51.282Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T19:35:51.570Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}