CVE-2026-42271
CVE-2026-42271 — LiteLLM: Authenticated command execution via MCP stdio test endpoints
LiteLLM is a proxy server (AI Gateway) to call LLM APIs in OpenAI (or native) format. From version 1.74.2 to before version 1.83.7, two endpoints used to preview an MCP server before saving it — POST /mcp-rest/test/connection and POST /mcp-rest/test/tools/list — accepted a full server configuration in the request body, including the command, args, and env fields used by the stdio transport. When called with a stdio configuration, the endpoints attempted to connect, which spawned the supplied command as a subprocess on the proxy host with the privileges of the proxy process. The endpoints were gated only by a valid proxy API key, with no role check. Any authenticated user — including holders of low-privilege internal-user keys — could therefore run arbitrary commands on the host. This issue has been patched in version 1.83.7.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, BerriAI (CNA), CISA, FIRST EPSS, GitHub, Red Hat (VEX), SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Confirmed
CISA KEV, listed Jun 8, 2026
EPSS
84%
ahead of 99.7% of scored CVEs
CVSS base
8.8
high · 2 sources
CISA SSVC assessment
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses · SSVC 2.0.3. A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Exploitation
Active
none · proof-of-concept · active
Automatable
No
can an attacker script all four kill-chain steps
Technical impact
Total
partial · total control of the vulnerable component
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade litellm to a fixed release. Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Federal deadline Jun 22, 2026 — passed 84 days ago
Red Hat VEX · CVE-2026-42271
vendor_fix: For Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.25.8 see the following documentation, which will be updated shortly for this release, for important instructions on how to upgrade your cluster and full…
vendor_fix: For Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.3.4 see the following documentation, which will be updated shortly for this release, for important instructions on how to upgrade your cluster and fully…
vendor_fix: For Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4.1 see the following documentation, which will be updated shortly for this release, for important instructions on how to upgrade your cluster and fully…
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Treat as emergency remediation because CISA KEV status is present.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BerriAI | litellm | >= 1.74.2, < 1.83.7 | Vulnerable |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Availability
High
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Scope
Unchanged
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Vector
Network
Privileges Req
Low
User Interaction
None
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | CVSS 3.1 | high | 2.8 | 5.9 | NVD, CNA, Red Hat (VEX) |
| 8.7 | CVSS 4.0 | high | — | — | BerriAI (CNA) |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-78 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
- Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
- DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
- Read Files or Directories
- Modify Files or Directories
Mitigation: If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
CWE-77 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
- Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Mitigation: If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-77Command Injection
- CWE-78OS Command Injection
Attack patterns reported against this CVE. The ATT&CK techniques below are inferred from its weakness class.
CISA KEV details
CISA lists a CVE here once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
Listed
Jun 8, 2026
Federal deadline
Jun 22, 2026
passed 84 days ago
Ransomware use
Unknown
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a date to argue against.
Public exploit
Capability, not use: code existing is a different claim from anyone running it.
Repositories
28
1 of the 5 sampled are weaponized
Exploit entries
2
Exploit-DB and CTI exploit indexes
Social mentions
Posts naming this CVE. Attention, not evidence of exploitation — it spikes on disclosure and decays whether or not anything is exploited.
2/7 🔑 En #LiteLLM, los atacantes aprovecharon fallas como CVE-2026-42271 y una cadena relacionada con #Starlette para alcanzar ejecución de código. Desde allí buscaron variables de entorno con #APIKeys, tokens y credenciales de bases de datos.
@totalcybersec· Aug 27, 2026
Microsoft observed active exploitation of AI infrastructure: LiteLLM, RAGFlow, and Kestra deployments compromised for credential theft, persistence, and cryptomining across three distinct intrusion chains. Key findings: - LiteLLM gateway compromise chained CVE-2026-42271 https://t.co/T1JxerfxNI
@DFIR_Radar· Aug 26, 2026
AI Gateways (like LiteLLM) store real provider keys (sk-...) so developers only handle virtual keys. If a proxy master key leaks or an instance is unpatched (CVE-2026-42271): 1.) Reroute Traffic: Calling /model/update sets api_base to a rogue proxy and use_litellm_proxy: true. https://t.co/eu1GtYvG3K
@Neerav_Ahuja18· Aug 22, 2026
CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog CISA has added two new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. CVE-2026-42271 BerriAI LiteLLM Command Injection Vulnerability CVE-2026-507 @CISACyber
@TheCyphere· Aug 18, 2026
CISA flagged a LiteLLM flaw (CVE-2026-42271): an unauthenticated RCE that leaks every OpenAI/Anthropic API key configured in the gateway. Patch NOW. https://t.co/xDdBSam6GO
@crtrsai· Jul 31, 2026
35 more posts on this CVEShowing 5 of 40 · Who is discussing this CVE, and how loudlyUnlock freeDetection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Search application, proxy, and WAF logs for requests touching /mcp-rest/test/connection, /mcp-rest/test/tools/list.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for network-reachable litellm.
- Monitor for scanner or exploit-pattern traffic after 30 public PoC repositories were reported.
Groups associated with this CVE
Groups reported in connection with this vulnerability. A reported association, not a confirmed observation of that group using it — and not scoped to any sector or campaign.
- ip185.84.98.8587
AlienVault OTX Feeds · Feb 2, 2026
- ip185.62.1.855
iocradar0-netizen - Public_News - Feed · Jul 11, 2026
- hostnamecrazyeltonproxy.top28
AlienVault OTX Feeds · Aug 28, 2026
- ip38.181.81.16461
AbuseIPDB Hourly Update · Dec 12, 2025
- ip115.171.80.25373
CINSscore · May 11, 2026
4 more indicators on this CVEShowing 5 of 9 · Hashes, addresses and domains from a live threat exchangeUnlock freeTimeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Added · CVSS 3.1 8.8 (AV:N)
Jul 15, 2026 · NVD
Added to CISA KEV catalog
Jun 8, 2026 · CISA
Initial · CVE published
May 8, 2026 · NVD
References
11 on the record
- github.com/BerriAI/litellm/releases/tag/v1.83.7-stable
Product, Release Notes, Mitre, NIST, Vendor Advisory
- github.com/BerriAI/litellm/security/advisories/GHSA-v4p8-mg3p-g94g
Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory, Mitre, NIST
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27784
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28960
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30056
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42271
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2467924
Third Party Advisory, NIST
- security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-42271.json
Third Party Advisory, NIST
Coverage
19 stories from the feeds we poll
Hackers Target AI Infrastructure With RCE, Prompt Injection and API Key Theft - CyberSecurityNews
cybersecuritynews.com · Aug 28, 2026
Hackers Are Targeting AI Servers to Steal API Keys and Install Crypto Miners - cyberpress.org
cyberpress.org · Aug 28, 2026
Hackers Target LiteLLM, RAGFlow and Kestra AI Infrastructure to Steal API Keys and Mine Crypto - cyberpress.org
cyberpress.org · Aug 27, 2026
Hackers Exploit AI Infrastructure to Steal API Keys, Gain Persistence and Mine Cryptocurrency
cybersecuritynews.com · Aug 27, 2026
Active Exploitation Alert: CVE-2026-42271 and CVE-2026-48710—Unauthenticated RCE in LiteLLM AI Gateway via Starlette Host Header Bypass - Rescana
rescana.com · Jun 9, 2026
14 more reports on this CVEShowing 5 of 19 · Vendor research and security press coverageUnlock freeElsewhere on this site
- BerriAIevery CVE for this vendor
- June 2026what else CISA listed
- Remote Code Execsame class
- CWE-77other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- Only the 5 indicator(s) reported for this CVE are available; no packet-level or host-forensic artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-42271 is LiteLLM: Authenticated command execution via MCP stdio test endpoints, a high vulnerability affecting litellm from BerriAI. The current evidence lists it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Yes: CISA KEV signal present. Public exploit evidence is: 30 public PoC repositories reported; 1 marked weaponized in current dataset. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 8.8 describes technical severity, while EPSS 84% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.