MongoDB Server: Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
CVE-2026-120804 is a high-severity missing release of resource after effective lifetime vulnerability in MongoDB Server from MongoDB, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9.0.7, 8.3.16, 8.0.37 as the first without the flaw, so updating MongoDB Server to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% 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
- Update MongoDB Server to 9.0.7 or 8.3.16 or 8.0.37 or 7.0.48, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MongoDB | MongoDB Server | 9.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.0.7; 8.3.0 up to, but not including, 8.3.16; 8.0.0 up to, but not including, 8.0.37; 7.0.0 up to, but not including, 7.0.48 | 9.0.7, 8.3.16, 8.0.37, 7.0.48 |
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
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (mongodb.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.2 | High | CNA (mongodb.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (mongodb.com) |
Official description
A flaw exists in the server-side SSPI Kerberos authentication handler on Windows Enterprise builds of MongoDB. When processing certain authentication requests, the server fails to properly release an underlying system resource due to an internal tracking error. An unauthenticated user can trigger this by repeatedly sending authentication requests using the Kerberos mechanism, eventually exhausting available resources and causing all subsequent Kerberos authentication attempts to fail. Server restart is required to recover.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
The product does not release a resource after its effective lifetime has ended, i.e., after the resource is no longer needed.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, languages such as Java, Ruby, and Lisp perform automatic garbage collection that releases memory for objects that have been deallocated.
- It is good practice to be responsible for freeing all resources you allocate and to be consistent with how and where you free resources in a function. If you allocate resources that you intend to free upon completion of the function, you must be sure to free the resources at all exit points for that function including error conditions.
More Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities (CWE-772)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in MongoDB Server
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
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