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Mallory
Medium

Local File Inclusion in AWS API MCP Server no-access/workdir feature

IdentifiersCVE-2026-4270CWE-59

CVE-2026-4270 is a local file inclusion / arbitrary file read vulnerability in AWS API MCP Server affecting versions >= 0.2.14 and < 1.3.9 on all platforms. The flaw exists in the no-access and workdir file access restriction features, which can be bypassed through an alternate path mechanism exposed by AWS CLI shorthand syntax. Specifically, the aws___call_aws tool could be induced to process parameters using the AWS CLI @= file-loading operator, causing the server to read attacker-referenced files from its own local filesystem. When the referenced file content was parsed in an invalid format, the resulting error message could include the file contents, exposing them back to the MCP client application context. The issue breaks the intended security boundary of FileAccessMode=NO_ACCESS and similar restrictions by allowing access to arbitrary local files on the MCP server host.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows disclosure of arbitrary local file contents from the system hosting the AWS API MCP Server. Exposed data may include system files such as /etc/passwd, configuration files, credentials, secrets, tokens, and other execution-environment details. Because the vulnerability affects the MCP server process context, the attacker gains read access to files reachable by that process, undermining the intended file access restrictions and potentially enabling follow-on compromise using harvested secrets or environment information.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate upgrade is not possible, restrict or disable exposure of the vulnerable MCP server, especially any public or untrusted-client access. Limit use of the aws___call_aws capability where possible, prevent untrusted prompts or users from supplying arbitrary AWS CLI parameters, and run the server with the least-privileged filesystem access possible so that sensitive files are not readable by the MCP server process. Rotate credentials and secrets accessible to the server if compromise is suspected. These are temporary measures; upgrading to 1.3.9 is the primary fix.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade AWS API MCP Server to version 1.3.9 or later. Any forked, derivative, or self-hosted implementations that incorporate the vulnerable behavior should be patched to include the upstream fix. Validate that deployments no longer permit AWS CLI shorthand file-loading behavior to bypass no-access or workdir restrictions, and review exposed secrets if exploitation is suspected.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Amazon Web ServicesAws Api Mcp Serverapplication

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

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Social activity5

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