CVE-2026-18696: MongoDB Server's applyOps command · Incorrect Authorization
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.0 High · fixed in 8.3.8 : patch MongoDB Server soon.
Data as of 9 Nov 2026, 23:24 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 34% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 8.3.8, 8.0.29, 7.0.40
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade MongoDB Server to 8.3.8, 8.0.29 or 7.0.40.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| MongoDBMongoDB Server | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MongoDBMongoDB Server | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MongoDBMongoDB Server | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
If you cannot patch yet, restrict privileges to trusted users only and monitor for unusual applyOps command usage. Avoid granting non-default privileges that could be exploited via this vulnerability.
Description
A vulnerability in MongoDB Server's applyOps command allows an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, on collections they should not have permission to manipulate. This occurs due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.