CVE-2026-18486: CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway

CVE-2026-18486 describes a vulnerability in IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway versions <= 1.0.7 where improper validation of jq filters allows a remote authenticated attacker to access sensitive credentials and escalate privileges. This is classified under CWE-200, indicating exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely with low attack complexity and no user interaction required, but requires attacker authentication. The impact includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences.

An attacker with valid authentication can exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive credentials, potentially leading to privilege escalation and full compromise of the affected system. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system are all severely impacted.

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. No official fix or patch links are provided in the available data. Until a patch is available, restrict access to trusted users and monitor for suspicious activity related to jq filter usage.