CVE-2026-9203 in MarkLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2026
A server-side request forgery vulnerability in Progress MarkLogic Server before 11.3.6 and 12.0.3 allows an authenticated user with low-privileged roles to bypass protections for cloud instance metadata endpoints. Successful exploitation can disclose cloud credentials and compromise cloud resources accessible to the host instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw in Progress MarkLogic Server that undermines fundamental security controls designed to protect cloud infrastructure metadata endpoints. The issue affects versions prior to 11.3.6 and 12.0.3, creating a pathway for authenticated users with minimal privileges to circumvent protective measures that should restrict access to sensitive cloud instance metadata services. Such bypass capabilities directly violate core security principles of least privilege and network segmentation that are essential for protecting cloud environments from unauthorized access and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and request handling within the MarkLogic Server's cloud metadata service interface. When authenticated users make requests to specific endpoints, the server fails to properly validate or sanitize the requested resource paths, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse network boundaries to access protected cloud metadata services. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the legitimate trust relationships between the MarkLogic instance and its underlying cloud infrastructure, making detection particularly challenging for security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of cloud resources associated with the host instance. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability gain access to sensitive cloud credentials, instance identifiers, and other metadata that can be used to escalate privileges, move laterally within cloud environments, or extract additional sensitive data from connected systems. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even users with minimal access rights can potentially cause significant damage to cloud infrastructure security posture.
Organizations running affected MarkLogic Server versions should prioritize immediate patching to remediate this vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors. Security teams should also implement network segmentation controls and monitor for unusual requests to cloud metadata endpoints, particularly from authenticated users who might not normally require access to such services. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-918 Server-Side Request Forgery and maps to attack patterns in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 Initial Access and T1071 Application Layer Protocol categories, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls beyond traditional perimeter defenses.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the latest security patches from Progress Software, implementation of strict access controls for cloud metadata endpoints, and enhanced monitoring of authentication and authorization events within the MarkLogic environment. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify all instances running vulnerable versions and establish automated patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls for cloud-connected applications that handle sensitive data and infrastructure metadata.