CVE-2026-19502 in Schema Builder CLI
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
MongoDB SQL Schema Builder CLI records its startup configuration to standard output and, when file logging is enabled, to a log file on disk. Certain connection settings were written without redaction, so authentication material supplied by the operator could appear in plaintext in that diagnostic output. A local user with read access to the terminal session or the log directory, or anyone with access to a location where those logs are subsequently collected, could obtain those values.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability involves a sensitive data exposure issue within MongoDB's SQL Schema Builder command line interface where authentication credentials are improperly logged without redaction. The flaw occurs during application startup when configuration parameters are recorded to standard output streams and potentially to disk log files when file logging is enabled. The technical implementation fails to sanitize or mask authentication material such as usernames, passwords, or connection strings that are passed to the CLI by operators during setup. This represents a classic security misconfiguration where diagnostic information contains plaintext credentials, creating an attack surface for unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure as it creates multiple attack vectors for local privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised environments. A local user with read access to terminal sessions or log directories can directly extract authentication material through standard file system operations or process monitoring techniques. The risk increases significantly when considering that log files may be collected by centralized logging systems, backup processes, or shared storage solutions where additional unauthorized parties could gain access to the plaintext credentials. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-532 (Information Exposure Through Log Files), both of which address improper handling of sensitive data in logging contexts.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to leverage compromised local accounts or access to shared resources to obtain database connection credentials for MongoDB instances. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique where adversaries exploit insecure logging practices to harvest authentication material that could then be used for further system compromise or data exfiltration. The impact is particularly severe when considering that these credentials may provide access to production databases containing sensitive organizational data, potentially enabling full database access without additional authentication challenges. Organizations should implement strict log sanitization policies and ensure that all authentication-related parameters are properly redacted from diagnostic output regardless of the logging medium used.
The recommended mitigations include implementing automatic credential redaction in all CLI output streams and log file entries, configuring mandatory access controls on log directories to restrict read permissions, and establishing centralized log management systems with proper filtering capabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular audits of application logging configurations to identify similar credential exposure vulnerabilities across their infrastructure. The fix requires modifying the CLI startup process to sanitize authentication parameters before writing them to any diagnostic output, ensuring that no plaintext credentials are ever persisted in accessible locations. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure configuration management and proper handling of sensitive data in all system components including command line interfaces and diagnostic tools.
This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights in logging configurations can create significant security risks for database environments. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege where diagnostic information should never contain sensitive operational parameters that could be exploited by unauthorized users with access to system resources. Organizations must ensure comprehensive security testing of all application components including CLI tools, paying particular attention to how sensitive data is handled during application initialization and runtime operations. The remediation process requires not only immediate code fixes but also organizational changes in development practices to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.