ContextForge MCP Gateway: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-110279 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in ContextForge MCP Gateway from IBM, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected ContextForge MCP Gateway versions: 1.0.0 through 1.1.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.37% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of ContextForge MCP Gateway you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | ContextForge MCP Gateway | 1.0.0 through 1.1.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (us.ibm.com).
Official description
IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway 1.0.0 through 1.1.0 is vulnerable to improper credential handling because the X-Upstream-Authorization request header can override the gateway-managed upstream credential for OAuth (authorization_code and client_credentials), bearer and basic authenticated gateways, which could allow an authenticated user to cause upstream requests to be made with a different credential and bypass per-user permission and audit attribution.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in ContextForge MCP Gateway
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 8.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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