CVE-2026-7038: ssh-mcp Credential Protection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-7038 Overview

A credential protection vulnerability has been identified in tufantunc ssh-mcp versions up to 1.5.0. The weakness exists in the Command Line Handler component within the file src/index.ts, where an unknown function fails to adequately protect credentials. This insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability (CWE-522) could allow a local attacker with low privileges to potentially access sensitive authentication information.

Critical Impact
Local attackers can exploit insufficiently protected credentials in the ssh-mcp command line handler, potentially exposing SSH authentication data stored or processed by the application.

Affected Products

tufantunc ssh-mcp up to version 1.5.0
ssh-mcp Command Line Handler component (src/index.ts)

Discovery Timeline

April 26, 2026 - CVE-2026-7038 published to NVD
April 27, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-7038

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from inadequate credential protection mechanisms within the ssh-mcp tool's command line handling functionality. The affected code resides in src/index.ts, which is responsible for processing command line arguments and potentially handling SSH credentials during MCP (Model Context Protocol) operations.

The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials), indicating that the application stores, transmits, or handles authentication credentials in a manner that does not adequately protect them from unauthorized access. Given the local attack vector requirement, exploitation would require an attacker to have existing access to the system where ssh-mcp is installed.

The project maintainers were notified of this vulnerability through a GitHub issue report but have not yet responded to the disclosure.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper handling of credential data within the Command Line Handler component. The src/index.ts file appears to process credentials in a way that exposes them to local users, potentially through insecure storage, logging of sensitive data to accessible locations, or transmission without adequate protection mechanisms.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the target system. An attacker with low-privilege access to a machine running ssh-mcp could potentially:

Access credential data that is insufficiently protected during command line processing
Monitor or intercept credentials as they are handled by the application
Retrieve stored credentials from locations that lack proper access controls

The vulnerability does not enable remote exploitation, significantly limiting its attack surface. However, in multi-user environments or compromised systems, local privilege escalation scenarios could leverage this weakness to obtain SSH credentials.

For technical details about the vulnerability mechanism, refer to the VulDB entry #359618 and the GitHub issue discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7038

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected access to ssh-mcp configuration files or credential storage locations
Unusual process activity related to ssh-mcp, particularly from non-standard user accounts
Evidence of credential file access by unauthorized local users
Anomalous command line usage patterns involving ssh-mcp

Detection Strategies

Monitor file system access to ssh-mcp installation directories and configuration files
Implement audit logging for access to src/index.ts and related application files
Review local user activity logs for suspicious ssh-mcp invocations
Deploy endpoint detection rules to identify credential harvesting behaviors

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed audit logging on systems running ssh-mcp version 1.5.0 or earlier
Monitor for unauthorized read access to credential storage locations used by ssh-mcp
Configure alerts for unexpected local user access to SSH credential files
Regularly audit user accounts with access to systems running the vulnerable software

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7038

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict local access to systems running ssh-mcp to only authorized users
Review and restrict file permissions on ssh-mcp installation directories
Audit current usage of ssh-mcp and identify systems running affected versions
Consider temporarily disabling ssh-mcp until a patch is available

Patch Information

As of the last update on April 27, 2026, no official patch has been released by the project maintainers. The vulnerability was reported through a GitHub issue, but the project has not responded to the disclosure. Users should monitor the ssh-mcp GitHub repository for updates and patch releases.

Workarounds

Implement strict file system permissions on all ssh-mcp configuration and installation files
Limit local user access to systems running ssh-mcp using principle of least privilege
Consider using alternative SSH connection management tools until the vulnerability is addressed
If ssh-mcp must be used, avoid storing credentials in configurations and use alternative authentication methods such as SSH keys with proper key management
Monitor the VulDB entry for updates on remediation options

bash

# Restrict permissions on ssh-mcp installation directory
chmod -R 700 /path/to/ssh-mcp
chown -R root:root /path/to/ssh-mcp

# Ensure src/index.ts is not world-readable
chmod 600 /path/to/ssh-mcp/src/index.ts

# Audit current users with access
find /path/to/ssh-mcp -type f -exec ls -la {} \;