CVE-2026-77825 IBM CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders managing IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway deployments should assess exposure and prioritize remediation. Those managing IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway deployments should review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance.

Why it matters

Defenders should care about CVE-2026-77825 because it allows authenticated admins to read files outside the configured log directory, potentially leading to unauthorized file access. Those managing IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway deployments should assess exposure and prioritize remediation. The vulnerability's impact is currently limited by the lack of detailed information on affected versions and exploitation.

• Potential unauthorized file access
• Need for verification of affected versions and deployments
• Remediation priority for IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway instances

Technical summary

IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway 1.0.0 through 1.0.8 has a path traversal vulnerability in its Admin API log-download endpoint (`GET /v1/admin/logs/file`). The path confinement check uses `str.startswith()` rather than proper boundary validation, allowing an authenticated admin to read `.log`, `.jsonl`, and `.json` files outside the configured `LOG_FOLDER` by supplying a filename that resolves into a sibling directory whose absolute path shares the log directory's string prefix.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying and remediating this vulnerability, especially those managing IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway deployments.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway version and check for updates
• Restrict access to the Admin API log-download endpoint
• Monitor logs for suspicious activity
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability. IBM support pages offer additional information. The vulnerability's impact is currently limited by the lack of detailed information on affected versions and exploitation. Defenders should verify and remediate this vulnerability, especially those managing IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway deployments. Evidence is limited, and defenders should exercise caution when verifying affected scope and severity.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.