CVE-2026-40576: excel-mcp-server has a Path Traversal issue
Affects excel-mcp-serverSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.4 Critical : upgrade to 0.1.8 as a priority.
Data as of 27 Oct 2026, 17:30 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 0.1.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Apr 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade excel-mcp-server to 0.1.8.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| PyPIexcel-mcp-server | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Upgrade to excel-mcp-server version 0.1.8 or later, where this path traversal vulnerability is fixed. Until upgraded, restrict network access to the server by configuring the FASTMCP_HOST environment variable to bind only to trusted interfaces and implement network-level access controls. Note that the vendor advisory confirms a patch is available in 0.1.8.
Description
A path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) exists in excel-mcp-server versions up to and including 0.1.7. The server fails to properly restrict file operations to a configured sandbox directory, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to read, write, and overwrite arbitrary files on the host filesystem via crafted filepath arguments. This is due to improper handling of absolute paths and relative path traversal sequences. The server binds by default to all network interfaces without authentication, increasing exposure. A fix is available in version 0.1.8.
References
- github.com/haris-musa/excel-mcp-server/security/advisories/GHSA-j98m-w3xp-9f56 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40576 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/haris-musa/excel-mcp-server/commit/f51340ecd5778952405044b203d3a2d4c8a46833 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/haris-musa/excel-mcp-server (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/excel-mcp-server/PYSEC-2026-331.yaml (opens in a new tab)
- pypi.org/project/excel-mcp-server (opens in a new tab)