CVE-2026-22708

Cursor has a Terminal Tool Allowlist Bypass via Environment Variables

Published Jan 14, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 7.2 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Cursor is a code editor built for programming with AI. Prior to 2.3, hen the Cursor Agent is running in Auto-Run Mode with Allowlist mode enabled, certain shell built-ins can still be executed without appearing in the allowlist and without requiring user approval.
This allows an attacker via indirect or direct prompt injection to poison the shell environment by setting, modifying, or removing environment variables that influence trusted commands. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.3.

Analysis

Technical impact

Cursor versions prior to 2.3 allow an Allowlist mode to be bypassed through environment variable manipulation, enabling shell built‑ins to run without user approval. This vulnerability can be triggered by direct or indirect prompt injection, enabling an attacker to poison the shell environment, alter environment variables that influence trusted commands, and potentially execute arbitrary commands or elevate privileges within the user session.

Affected Systems

The affected product is Cursor, a code editor that supports AI programming. All releases earlier than version 2.3 are vulnerable. This includes any 2.2.x or earlier snapshot of Cursor.

Risk and Exploitability

The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.2, indicating high severity. The EPSS score is less than 1%, suggesting a low probability of exploitation at present. It is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector involves manipulating environment variables via prompt injection or local configuration changes when the Cursor Agent operates in Auto‑Run Mode with Allowlist enabled, leading to unauthorized command execution.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

cursor

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`< 2.3`	affected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:anysphere:cursor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Cursor	Cursor	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade Cursor to version 2.3 or later, which contains the fix for the allowlist bypass.
Disable Auto‑Run Mode or require explicit user approval for all shell commands to eliminate the bypass path.
Audit and sanitize any input or configuration that may set or alter environment variables used by Cursor before execution.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 18, 2026 at 06:20 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity High

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements Present

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.817% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://github.com/cursor/cursor/security/advisories/GHSA-82wg-qcm4-fp2w

History

Feb 3, 2026 6:45 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Anysphere Anysphere cursor
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:anysphere:cursor::::::::
Vendors & Products		Anysphere Anysphere cursor
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}`

Jan 15, 2026 8:15 AM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Cursor Cursor cursor
Vendors & Products		Cursor Cursor cursor

Jan 14, 2026 5:15 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jan 14, 2026 5:00 PM Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Cursor is a code editor built for programming with AI. Prior to 2.3, hen the Cursor Agent is running in Auto-Run Mode with Allowlist mode enabled, certain shell built-ins can still be executed without appearing in the allowlist and without requiring user approval. This allows an attacker via indirect or direct prompt injection to poison the shell environment by setting, modifying, or removing environment variables that influence trusted commands. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.3.
Title		Cursor has a Terminal Tool Allowlist Bypass via Environment Variables
Weaknesses		CWE-15 CWE-269 CWE-74 CWE-77 CWE-78 CWE-94
References		https://github.com/cursor/cursor/security/advisories/GHSA-82wg-qcm4-fp2w
Metrics		cvssV4_0 `{'score': 7.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U'}`

Subscriptions

Anysphere Cursor

Cursor Cursor

Weaknesses

CWE-15
External Control of System or Configuration Setting
CWE-269
Improper Privilege Management
CWE-74
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
CWE-77
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-78
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-94
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')