Description
Payload is a free and open source headless content management system. In @payloadcms/plugin-mcp versions from 3.61.0 until 3.88.0, an authenticated user can manage MCP API keys outside the intended account, enabling privilege escalation through account takeover. This issue is fixed in version 3.88.0.
Published: 2026-10-06
Score: 8.6 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Privilege Escalation
Action: Apply Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

An authenticated user in affected versions of the PayloadCMS MCP plugin can create, read, update, or delete API keys belonging to other accounts. This improper access control flaw enables an attacker to take over another user's account or hijack content management capabilities, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the system. The weakness corresponds to the CWE-862 "Missing Authorization" flaw.

Affected Systems

The vulnerability exists in @payloadcms/plugin-mcp versions from 3.61.0 up to but not including 3.88.0. The issue was addressed and fixed in release 3.88.0. Users running older plugin versions or consuming MCP API endpoints without the patch are affected.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 8.6 categorizes this as a high severity finding. The EPSS score is not available, so the exploitation probability cannot be quantified at this time, and the vulnerability is not yet listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector requires an authenticated session with sufficient permissions to access the MCP API; a malicious user could thus elevate privileges by creating or managing API keys for other accounts.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 6, 2026 at 18:42 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade @payloadcms/plugin-mcp to version 3.88.0 or later
  • Restrict CRUD permissions on MCP API keys to users with administrative privileges only
  • Enable logging and monitoring for MCP API key operations to detect suspicious activities

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 6, 2026 at 18:42 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-2q76-m6w6-qgc6 Payload: Improper access control for MCP API keys
History

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Payloadcms
Payloadcms payload
Payloadcms plugin-mcp
Vendors & Products Payloadcms
Payloadcms payload
Payloadcms plugin-mcp

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Payload is a free and open source headless content management system. In @payloadcms/plugin-mcp versions from 3.61.0 until 3.88.0, an authenticated user can manage MCP API keys outside the intended account, enabling privilege escalation through account takeover. This issue is fixed in version 3.88.0.
Title Payload: Improper access control for MCP API keys
Weaknesses CWE-862
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Subscriptions

Payloadcms Payload Plugin-mcp
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-06T17:39:44.197Z

Reserved: 2026-10-05T20:37:19.365Z

Link: CVE-2026-105806

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-06T17:34:10.714Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-10-06T16:17:06.257

Modified: 2026-10-06T20:03:40.690

Link: CVE-2026-105806

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-09T08:44:10Z

Weaknesses