CVE-2026-113378 in mcp-ripgrep
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
A security flaw has been discovered in mcollina mcp-ripgrep up to 0.4.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file src/index.ts of the component Advanced Search Tool. The manipulation of the argument fileType results in os command injection. The attack requires a local approach. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. The code's own escapeShellArg on sibling arguments (skipped only for fileType) indicates that this is a CWE-78 oversight, not a documented design. The project maintainer cites the documentation: "This MCP server executes shell commands using the ripgrep tool. While efforts have been made to safely escape arguments, use caution when providing input, as it runs commands on your machine."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The vulnerability identified in mcollina's mcp-ripgrep project prior to version 0.4.0 represents a critical failure in command injection prevention mechanisms within the Advanced Search Tool component. The flaw resides specifically within an unknown function located in the src/index.ts file, where the argument handling logic fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input for the fileType parameter. While the application employs shell escaping functions such as escapeShellArg for other sibling arguments, this protective measure is explicitly skipped when processing the fileType variable. This inconsistency creates a direct pathway for Operating System Command Injection, allowing an attacker who can influence the value of fileType to inject arbitrary commands that will be executed by the underlying operating system with the privileges of the application process.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns directly with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-78, which describes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command. The root cause is not necessarily a complex architectural flaw but rather a developer oversight where specific input vectors were excluded from standard sanitization routines. In secure coding practices, all external inputs must be treated as untrusted and subjected to rigorous validation or escaping before being passed to system-level commands. By omitting the fileType argument from this process, the application violates fundamental principles of defense in depth. The presence of escapeShellArg for other arguments suggests that security was a consideration during development, but the exception made for fileType indicates either a misunderstanding of how shell parsing works or an incomplete implementation of input validation strategies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution on the host machine. Although the attack vector requires local access, meaning the attacker must already have some level of interaction with the system running the MCP server, the consequences are significant. An exploited instance could allow an adversary to read sensitive configuration files, exfiltrate data, install malware, or use the compromised machine as a pivot point for further network attacks. The fact that exploit code has been released publicly increases the risk landscape considerably, as it lowers the barrier to entry for less skilled attackers who might leverage existing tools rather than crafting custom payloads from scratch. This public availability of exploits often leads to an increase in automated scanning and opportunistic attacks against vulnerable instances found on networks or exposed services.
In terms of industry framework mapping, this vulnerability can be correlated with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse. Specifically, it relates to mechanisms where attackers execute commands through system shells, potentially leveraging the environment's native capabilities for persistence or privilege escalation depending on the context in which mcp-ripgrep is deployed. If the service runs with elevated privileges, such as root or administrator rights, the impact scales from data compromise to complete system takeover. The local nature of the attack vector suggests that this vulnerability primarily threatens environments where untrusted users have access to input fields within the application interface, whether through a web UI, API endpoint, or direct command-line interaction if not properly restricted.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and rigorous input validation. Users running versions up to 0.4.0 should upgrade to version 0.4.1 or later where this oversight has been addressed by the maintainer. In cases where upgrading is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict allowlisting for the fileType parameter, ensuring that only predefined, safe values are accepted and rejecting any input containing special characters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, or backticks which are commonly used in shell injection attacks. Additionally, running the application with the principle of least privilege is essential; by restricting the operating system permissions of the process executing ripgrep, the potential damage from a successful exploitation attempt can be significantly contained. Continuous monitoring for unusual command execution patterns and regular security audits of third-party dependencies are also recommended to maintain a robust security posture against similar oversights in future updates.