IBM MCP Context Forge up to 1.0.1 mcpgateway/config.py verify_jwt_token JWT_SECRET_KEY information disclosure

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in IBM MCP Context Forge up to 1.0.1. This vulnerability affects the function verify_jwt_token of the file mcpgateway/config.py. Such manipulation of the argument JWT_SECRET_KEY leads to information disclosure. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-53709. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in IBM MCP Context Forge up to 1.0.1. Affected by this issue is the function verify_jwt_token of the file mcpgateway/config.py. The manipulation of the argument JWT_SECRET_KEY with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. Impacted is confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

MCP Context Forge is an MCP gateway and administrative platform. Prior to 1.0.2, mcpgateway/config.py and .env.example ship a known JWT_SECRET_KEY, while verify_jwt_token() accepts HS256 tokens signed with that key and get_current_user() creates a platform administrator when the token subject matches PLATFORM_ADMIN_EMAIL and REQUIRE_USER_IN_DB is false. A remote unauthenticated attacker can therefore mint accepted administrator tokens without a database account. While the vulnerable signing key remains configured and the platform-admin bootstrap remains enabled, forged access survives password rotation, account deletion, and session revocation, allowing administrative disclosure, modification, and service disruption. This issue is fixed in version 1.0.2.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-53709 since 06/10/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/13/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1592.

Upgrading to version 1.0.2 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Artificial Intelligence Software

Vendor

• IBM

Name

• MCP Context Forge

Version

• 1.0.0
• 1.0.1

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.ibm.com/

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