Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2025-61260: OpenAI Codex CLI enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files
A vulnerability was identified in OpenAI Codex CLI v0.23.0 and before that enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files.
CVSS 9.8 Critical EPSS 6.6% · p94
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 6.6%, percentile 94: FIRST’s model estimates a 6.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
@openai/codex(npm) <= 0.23.0, no fixed version listed. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
A vulnerability was identified in OpenAI Codex CLI v0.23.0 and before that enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files. The attack is triggered when a user runs the codex command inside a malicious or compromised repository. Codex automatically loads project-local .env and .codex/config.toml files without requiring user confirmation, allowing attackers to embed arbitrary commands that execute immediately.
From the GitHub advisory
A vulnerability was identified in OpenAI Codex CLI v0.23.0 and before that enables code execution through malicious MCP (Model Context Protocol) configuration files. The attack is triggered when a user runs the codex command inside a malicious or compromised repository. Codex automatically loads project-local .env and .codex/config.toml files without requiring user confirmation, allowing attackers to embed arbitrary commands that execute immediately.
Weakness type: CWE-94.
Product: @openai/codex (npm) · Assigned by: mitre · Published: 2026-04-14
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | @openai/codex | <= 0.23.0 | none listed |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | n/a | see vendor advisory |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | 3.1 | 9.8 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 6.58% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 94.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by mitre
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm published (critical)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2025-61260 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2025-61260 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- research.checkpoint.com research.checkpoint.com
- openai.com openai.com