Tooling: Session Fixation
CVE-2026-16496 is a high-severity session fixation vulnerability in Tooling from HashiCorp, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.9 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.1.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Tooling to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% 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 Tooling to 1.1.0 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
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
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L. Scored by CNA (hashicorp.com).
Official description
The terraform-mcp-server before version 1.1.0 is vulnerable to an authorization bypass in the streamable-HTTP stateful transport mode that may allow a user who obtains another user's MCP session ID to have their tool calls executed using that user's Terraform credentials. This vulnerability, CVE-2026-16496, is fixed in terraform-mcp-server 1.1.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Session Fixation
Authenticating a user, or otherwise establishing a new user session, without invalidating any existing session identifier gives an attacker the opportunity to steal authenticated sessions.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Invalidate any existing session identifiers prior to authorizing a new user session.
- For platforms such as ASP that do not generate new values for sessionid cookies, utilize a secondary cookie. In this approach, set a secondary cookie on the user's browser to a random value and set a session variable to the same value. If the session variable and the cookie value ever don't match, invalidate the session, and force the user to log on again.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Tooling
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
Recent Session Fixation vulnerabilities
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.