CVE-2026-111771 Model Context Protocol TypeScript SDK: Server bearer authentication accepted tokens issued for another service

Description

The Model Context Protocol TypeScript SDK provides TypeScript client and server implementations of the Model Context Protocol. From 1.6.0 until 1.32.0 in @modelcontextprotocol/sdk, from 2.0.0 until 2.3.0 in @modelcontextprotocol/server, from 2.0.0 until 2.0.2 in @modelcontextprotocol/express, and from 2.0.0 until 2.3.1 in @modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy, server-side bearer authentication could accept a valid access token issued for a different service because the SDK did not enforce the token audience. The affected surface is server-side HTTP bearer authentication. The trigger is a valid token whose audience names another service. The authorization server must issue tokens for multiple services, and the application's verifyAccessToken() must not independently validate aud. Applications already validating aud inside verifyAccessToken() are not affected. An attacker with a token for another service could authenticate to the MCP server and obtain the confidentiality and integrity capabilities granted to an authenticated caller. Upgrading alone leaves the new audience validation disabled. Operators must enable audience validation and provide the token audience together. Enabling only the expected audience check causes every request to receive HTTP 401. This issue is fixed in @modelcontextprotocol/sdk 1.32.0, @modelcontextprotocol/server 2.3.0, @modelcontextprotocol/express 2.0.2, and @modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy 2.3.1.

Exploitable remotely over the network, with an ordinary account and without any user action; an attacker can seriously compromise confidentiality, integrity or availability.

Attack vector

Network

Attack complexity

High

Privileges required

Low

Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

None

Affected products and versions