gcdRadar
archive/Patch now/AIR-2026-0082
closedclosed 14 Aug 2026Patch now2 Disclosed vulnerabilityAI

CVE-2026-49986: Cortex MCP Server vulnerability allows improper developer root validation

neuro-cortex-memory, Claude Code

A path handling vulnerability in the Cortex MCP server prior to version 3.17.1 incorrectly treats the Claude Code project directory environment variable as a trusted developer checkout. A patch has been released to fix this issue.

disclosed CVENo confirmed exploitation, so this record is tracked as a disclosed vulnerability and not counted as an incident. It moves into the counts if CISA or the vendor confirms exploitation. Why

CVSS
7.1
EPSS
<0.01 · top 95% · 2026-11-13
EPSS scores by FIRST
fix status
Fix status unknown
first report
14 Aug 2026
last update
14 Aug 2026
CVE ids
CVE-2026-49986other records

Timeline · 1

  1. 14 Aug 2026CVE-2026-49986: The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the…

Sources · 1

Advisories and databases

  1. 2026-08-14
    CVE-2026-49986: The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the…
    NVD · nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-49986

Titles and links belong to their publishers. The summary above is written by gcdRadar in its own words; data is CC BY-SA 4.0.

Classification

lane
Patch now
AI role
Attack on AI
categories
Infrastructure vulnerability
severity
2 · Disclosed vulnerability
fix status
Fix status unknown
targets
Framework / tooling
owasp llm top 10
LLM03:2025 Supply Chain
mitre atlas
no technique for these categories
tags
mcppath-traversal
dates
happened 14 Aug 2026 · first reported 14 Aug 2026
origin
NVD
Vulnerability record from NVD / the GitHub Advisory Database. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
record
confidence 0.95 · created 2026-10-18 06:33Z · updated 2026-10-18 06:33Z

Lane, AI role, categories and severity come from the classifier; the OWASP and ATLAS rows are derived from the categories. How these are assigned

Copy a brief

This record as a short Markdown brief, for a ticket, a chat or a coding agent.

the brief as text
# CVE-2026-49986: Cortex MCP Server vulnerability allows improper developer root validation

https://gcdradar.vercel.app/incidents/cve-2026-49986-cortex-mcp-server-vulnerability-allows-improp · AIR-2026-0082 · closed 2026-08-14

- Lane: Patch now
- Severity: 2 (Disclosed vulnerability)
- Fix status: Fix status unknown
- First reported: 2026-08-14
- AI role: Attack on AI
- Products: neuro-cortex-memory, Claude Code
- CVE ids: CVE-2026-49986
- CVSS: 7.1

## Summary

A path handling vulnerability in the Cortex MCP server prior to version 3.17.1 incorrectly treats the Claude Code project directory environment variable as a trusted developer checkout. A patch has been released to fix this issue.

## What to do

No action recorded; read the sources below and the vendor's advisory.

## Latest updates

- 2026-08-14: CVE-2026-49986: The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the… (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-49986)

## Sources

- 2026-08-14 NVD: CVE-2026-49986: The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the… https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-49986

Verify against the vendor's advisory before changing production. Data CC BY-SA 4.0, https://gcdradar.vercel.app.

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