cdeust Cortex up to 3.17.0 Root Validation visualize_bootstrap.py _is_cortex_root CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in cdeust Cortex up to 3.17.0. Affected is the function _is_cortex_root of the file mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py of the component Root Validation. The manipulation of the argument CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR results in code injection. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-49986. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in cdeust Cortex up to 3.17.0. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function _is_cortex_root of the file mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py of the component Root Validation. The manipulation of the argument CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The Cortex MCP server (`neuro-cortex-memory`), a cross-platform persistent memory MCP, prior to version 3.17.1 treats the `CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable — automatically set by Claude Code to the currently open project directory — as a trusted Cortex developer checkout. When the `open_visualization` tool is invoked, `_find_dev_source()` resolves the user's active project directory as a candidate Cortex source root. The only validation performed by `_is_cortex_root()` is a check for the presence of an `mcp_server/` subdirectory and a `ui/unified-viz.html` file. An attacker who places these two marker files in a malicious repository can cause Cortex to execute an arbitrary `mcp_server/server/visualize_bootstrap.py` from that directory via `subprocess.run([sys.executable, ...])`, achieving code execution with the privileges of the victim's local user process. Version 3.17.1 fixes the issue.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-49986 since 06/02/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1059.

It is declared as proof-of-concept.

Upgrading to version 3.17.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• cdeust

Name

• Cortex

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1
• 3.2
• 3.3
• 3.4
• 3.5
• 3.6
• 3.7
• 3.8
• 3.9
• 3.10
• 3.11
• 3.12
• 3.13
• 3.14
• 3.15
• 3.16
• 3.17.0

Website

• Product: https://github.com/cdeust/Cortex/

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