CVE-2026-78573Network attack vector

Administrative access via accepted default credentials

Published Sep 10, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026

Use of default credentials in IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway 1.0.0 through 1.0.7 allows remote attackers to gain administrative access. The bootstrap email administrator and optional HTTP Basic authentication settings accept publicly documented usernames and passwords unless operators replace them. Reachability requires the relevant authentication feature and management interface to be enabled and network-exposed; successful login grants administrative control.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of default credentials in IBM ContextForge MCP Gateway 1.0.0 through 1.0.7 allows remote attackers to gain administrative access. The bootstrap email administrator and optional HTTP Basic authentication settings accept publicly documented usernames and passwords unless operators replace them. Reachability requires the relevant authentication feature and management interface to be enabled and network-exposed; successful login grants administrative control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-78573
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Updated
Sep 10, 2026
Vendor
IBM
Product
ContextForge MCP Gateway
Classifications
CWE-1392, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.0.0 <=1.0.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · ContextForge MCP Gatewayversion=1.0.0 <=1.0.7

Published CVSS scores

9.8IBM PSIRTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1392Use of Default Credentials
T1078.001Valid Accounts Default Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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