CVE-2026-25610 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting MongoDB. This vulnerability allows an authorized user to trigger a server crash by executing a $geoNear pipeline with specific invalid index hints. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to significant service disruption, making it critical for organizations using MongoDB to address this issue promptly.
With a CVSS score of 7.1, this vulnerability falls within the high severity range, indicating the potential for substantial impact on system availability. The attack vector is classified as network-based, which means that the risk extends beyond local environments, allowing for remote exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
The urgency is underscored by the potential for service outages, which could affect user access and disrupt operations. Given that the vulnerability has been analyzed and disclosed, defenders must take swift action to implement necessary patches and updates.
No public exploits have been identified as of now, but the availability of the vulnerability's details means that attackers may develop their own methods of exploitation. Therefore, immediate remediation is essential to prevent unauthorized access and maintain system integrity.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is officially described as follows: 'An authorized user may trigger a server crash by running a $geoNear pipeline with certain invalid index hints.' This vulnerability is classified under CWE-617, indicating that it results from improper handling of input.
The CVSS version 4.0 score of 7.1 reflects a high severity level due to the potential impact on availability. This vulnerability affects various versions of MongoDB, specifically those from 7.0.0 to 7.0.29 and from 8.0.0 to 8.0.13. The vulnerability was published on February 10, 2026, and remains a significant concern for organizations using affected versions.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the server's failure to adequately validate index hints provided in the $geoNear pipeline. When an authorized user submits invalid index hints, the server may crash, leading to an availability impact. The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring low attack complexity, and only low privileges are needed to exploit it. Importantly, no user interaction is required for this attack, which increases its potential for widespread impact.
The vulnerability has a high impact on availability, meaning that successful exploitation can lead to significant downtime of the MongoDB service. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are assessed as none, indicating that the primary concern is the disruption of service rather than unauthorized data access.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using MongoDB should recognize the real-world risks associated with CVE-2026-25610. The ability of authorized users to crash the server can lead to prolonged outages, affecting business operations and service availability. This vulnerability has the potential for a wide blast radius, especially for organizations that rely heavily on MongoDB for critical applications.
The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score of 7.1. Organizations should assess their deployment of affected versions and prioritize patching in their security update cycles. Given that the vulnerability is not actively exploited in the wild at this time, there is a window of opportunity to remediate before potential exploitation occurs.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected products include MongoDB versions from 7.0.0 to 7.0.29 and from 8.0.0 to 8.0.13. Organizations should check their deployments to ensure they are not running any vulnerable versions.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching MongoDB to the latest versions that address this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider applying configuration hardening strategies to limit exposure. Additionally, organizations may implement network controls to restrict access to the MongoDB service and monitor for any abnormal behavior that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Security testing through penetration testing can also help identify weaknesses in your deployment.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual patterns related to the $geoNear pipeline execution. Behavioral anomalies such as repeated server crashes or abnormal query patterns may indicate attempted exploitation. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unauthorized access attempts can provide insights into potential threats.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2026-25610 highlights the importance of robust input validation and error handling mechanisms within application development. This vulnerability represents a pattern where even authorized users can inadvertently cause critical failures within systems. Security teams should take this as a reminder to continually assess and improve their defensive postures against potential threats.
Organizations can learn from this incident by establishing a proactive security culture that emphasizes regular security assessments and updates. Developing a comprehensive vulnerability management program can help mitigate risks associated with such vulnerabilities in the future.
This incident also emphasizes the need for organizations to stay informed about the evolving threat landscape and to adopt advanced penetration testing methodologies that can identify and address vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
Ultimately, the strategic defensive takeaway from CVE-2026-25610 is the necessity for continuous improvement and vigilance in application security practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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