CVE-2026-18696
Improper Authorization in MongoDB applyOps Command Handling Allows Unauthorized DDL Operations on Collections
CVE-2026-18696 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) in Mongodb, published August 11, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.40%, the 34th percentile. Fixed in mongodb 7.0.40.
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Improper Authorization in MongoDB applyOps Command Handling Allows Unauthorized DDL Operations on Collections
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
CVE-2026-18696- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-863
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-56914
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
EUVD-2026-56914- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-85cq-4fh4-j8cv
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non...
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
GHSA-85cq-4fh4-j8cv- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-863
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
CVE-2026-18696- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-863
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Improper Authorization in MongoDB applyOps Command Handling Allows Unauthorized DDL Operations on Collections
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
CVE-2026-18696- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-863
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-18696
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-18696- CVSS 4.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-mongodb-2026-18696 No score
Improper Authorization in MongoDB applyOps Command Handling Allows Unauthorized DDL Operations on Collections
An issue in MongoDB Server's applyOps command could allow an authenticated user with specific non-default privileges to perform certain data-definition operations, such as dropping or modifying collections, against collections they do not have permission to manipulate. This is due to an inconsistency in how the target collection is determined between the authorization check and the actual operation.
- Record
BIT-mongodb-2026-18696- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
mongodbBitnami |
7.0.0 up to 7.0.40, 8.0.0 up to 8.0.29, 8.2.0 up to 8.3.8, 9.0.0 up to 9.0.2 | 7.0.408.0.298.3.89.0.2 |
mongodbUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:2.4.6-0ubuntu51:2.4.6-0ubuntu61:2.4.8-1ubuntu11:2.4.8-21:2.4.9-11:2.4.9-1ubuntu11:2.4.9-1ubuntu21:2.4.9-1ubuntu2+esm2 |
None known |
mongodbUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:2.6.10-0ubuntu11:2.6.10-0ubuntu1+esm2 |
None known |
mongodbUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:3.4.7-11:3.4.7-1ubuntu11:3.4.7-1ubuntu21:3.4.7-1ubuntu41:3.4.14-3ubuntu1 Show 7 moreShow less1:3.4.14-3ubuntu21:3.6.3-0ubuntu11:3.6.3-0ubuntu1.11:3.6.3-0ubuntu1.31:3.6.3-0ubuntu1.41:3.6.3-0ubuntu1.4+esm11:3.6.3-0ubuntu1.4+esm2 |
None known |
mongodbUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:3.6.9+really3.6.8+90~g8e540c0b6d-0ubuntu21:3.6.9+really3.6.8+90~g8e540c0b6d-0ubuntu51:3.6.9+really3.6.8+90~g8e540c0b6d-0ubuntu5.21:3.6.9+really3.6.8+90~g8e540c0b6d-0ubuntu5.31:3.6.9+really3.6.8+90~g8e540c0b6d-0ubuntu5.3+esm1 |
None known |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |