MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolb…: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-11717 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) from Google, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) versions: 1.0.0 through 1.3.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) | 1.0.0 through 1.3.0 | Not stated | |
| Mcp Toolbox For Databases | 1.0.0 through 1.3.0 | 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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.3 | Critical | CNA (google.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in the generic opaque token validation path (validateOpaqueToken) of googleapis/mcp-toolbox. When verifying an unparsed opaque token via an OAuth 2.0 introspection endpoint (RFC 7662), the toolbox decodes the response into an introspectResp struct where the Active field is declared as a pointer to a boolean (*bool). The code only explicitly rejects a token if the response contains a populated active field set to false (if introspectResp.Active != nil && !*introspectResp.Active). If an introspection endpoint responds with a payload that completely omits the mandatory active key, the internal variable remains nil, causing the conditional check to short-circuit. As a result, Toolbox accepts authorization tokens missing the "active" field, granting access to protected tools and underlying data sources.
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.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/googleapis/mcp-toolbox/pull/3341Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in MCP Toolbox for Databases (googleapis/mcp-toolbox)
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
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