Skip to main content

Cursor IDE EUVDEUVD-2026-56842

| CVE-2026-73218 HIGH
Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269)
2026-08-11 security-advisories@github.com
7.7
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: github
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Inject malicious prompt via untrusted content
  2. Delivery
    Agent executes in Auto-Run Sandbox mode
  3. Exploit
    Invoke Dev Containers CLI for privileged container
  4. Execution
    Mount host virtiofs0 via privileged container
  5. Impact
    Read/write home directory or execute host commands

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

All four of the following conditions must be simultaneously true: (1) Cursor IDE version prior to 3.0.0 is installed on macOS; (2) Docker Desktop is installed and its daemon is running, providing access to the virtiofs0 virtual filesystem that bridges the host and container environments; (3) the Dev Containers CLI ('devcontainer' binary) is installed and reachable in the agent's execution path; and (4) a Cursor AI agent session is actively running in Auto-Run Sandbox mode, which permits the agent to execute commands without per-action user confirmation. The sandbox bypass itself requires no additional user permission prompt at exploit time. Factors limiting exploitation: the vulnerability is described as macOS-specific (other Cursor platforms are not mentioned as affected); requires a live Docker daemon; requires an active agent session in Auto-Run mode; and requires delivery of a malicious prompt through the agent's context, such as via prompt injection through untrusted repository content, a crafted file opened in the editor, or a web-sourced context document. The CVSS 4.0 vector includes PR:N, indicating no authentication is required from the attacker's perspective when operating through the prompt-injection delivery path.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 score of 7.7 with vector AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P reflects high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the vulnerable system, moderated by attack-requirement prerequisites (AT:P) that must align before exploitation succeeds. Real-world risk is meaningful but bounded: exploitation requires Docker Desktop and the Dev Containers CLI both be installed on the same macOS machine running a vulnerable Cursor version, with an AI agent session actively in Auto-Run Sandbox mode. The developer audience most likely to run Cursor is also the demographic most likely to have Docker Desktop installed, which tightens the gap between theoretical and practical exploitability - even a mid-sized development shop in malbork managing shared AI-assisted coding environments should treat this as an urgent upgrade rather than deferred maintenance. No public exploit code has been identified and this CVE is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, meaning confirmed widespread active exploitation is not established. EPSS data was not provided in the input, so numerical exploitation probability cannot be assessed. The potential for AI agent prompt injection as a remote trigger elevates concern beyond a purely local-privilege-escalation framing, since a malicious repository file or web page could serve as the delivery mechanism for an attacker with no local access.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A malicious repository file, crafted document, or web page delivers a prompt that, when processed by Cursor's AI agent in Auto-Run Sandbox mode, causes the agent to issue a 'devcontainer' CLI command spawning a privileged Docker container with the virtiofs0 device mounted. Once running, the agent reads sensitive files from the user's home directory - such as SSH private keys, shell configuration files, or browser session data - or overwrites them, or executes arbitrary shell commands on the host as the logged-in macOS user. No public proof-of-concept exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 11, 2026

Sandbox escape in Cursor IDE for macOS (versions prior to 3.0.0) allows a malicious or prompt-injected AI agent operating in Auto-Run Sandbox mode to break container isolation by invoking the Dev Containers CLI to launch a privileged Docker container that mounts the host's virtiofs0 virtual filesystem. This grants the agent unrestricted read and write access to the user's entire home directory and enables arbitrary command execution at the user's privilege level - all without any additional permission prompt to the user. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available as version 3.0.0.

RemediationAI

Upgrade Cursor IDE to version 3.0.0 or later, which is the vendor-confirmed fix per GitHub security advisory GHSA-v4xv-rqh3-w9mc at https://github.com/cursor/cursor/security/advisories/GHSA-v4xv-rqh3-w9mc. If immediate upgrade is not possible, the most effective compensating control is to uninstall Docker Desktop on machines where Cursor runs AI agents in Auto-Run Sandbox mode, since the entire attack path depends on Docker Desktop's virtiofs interface being present; the trade-off is the loss of all containerized development workflows. A narrower alternative is to remove only the Dev Containers CLI package (which provides the 'devcontainer' binary), breaking the specific execution path while preserving Docker Desktop for other uses - though this eliminates Dev Container functionality. Organizations may also disable Auto-Run Sandbox mode in Cursor's settings entirely, requiring explicit human approval for every agent action and eliminating the automated-execution prerequisite; the trade-off is reduced AI agent productivity. Network-level controls will not mitigate this vulnerability, as exploitation is exercised locally through CLI invocation after the agent receives its prompt.

Affected VersionsENISA

cursor < 3.0.0

Affected Packages

euvd cursor fix: 3.0.0

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Cursor IDE's Auto-Run Sandbox mode is designed to constrain autonomous AI agent actions, but it does not restrict the agent from invoking the Dev Containers CLI ('devcontainer' binary) to spawn new Docker containers. Docker Desktop on macOS exposes the host filesystem through a virtiofs (virtio filesystem) driver - a shared filesystem protocol that gives Linux containers direct access to the macOS host's file tree. By launching a container with elevated (--privileged) flags and mounting the virtiofs0 device node, the agent can read and write the host filesystem outside the intended sandbox boundary. The root cause is CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management): the sandbox policy fails to restrict the agent's ability to invoke Docker APIs or CLI tooling that itself holds elevated access to host resources. Affected CPE is cursor < 3.0.0 on macOS, as confirmed by EUVD-2026-56842.

Know when Docker gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (github) PRIMARY 7.7 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 8.3 HIGH

Network vector reflects prompt-injection delivery path; AC:H captures Docker Desktop plus Dev Containers CLI prerequisites; scope changed because container escapes to host filesystem.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (github).

CVSS VectorVendor: github

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
Present
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Passive
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 11, 2026 - 19:04 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 11, 2026 - 18:18 cve.org
HIGH 7.7

DescriptionCVE.org

Cursor is a code editor built for programming with AI. Prior to 3.0.0, Cursor IDE for macOS allows an agent running in Auto-Run Sandbox mode, when Docker Desktop and the Dev Containers CLI are installed, to launch a privileged container and mount Docker's virtiofs0, granting read and write access to the user's home directory and enabling host command execution with the user's privileges without an additional permission prompt. This issue is fixed in version 3.0.0.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Cursor IDE for macOS versions prior to 3.0.0 contain a sandbox bypass vulnerability enabling complete compromise of developer workstations through malicious AI prompts. The vulnerability grants unrestricted access to source code repositories, credentials, SSH keys, and enables arbitrary system command execution-representing both immediate data theft and potential supply chain attack risks.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.8%
Top 46% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
popular AI-native code editor with growing but not universal developer adoption
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment GitHub VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.8%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +38
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

More in Docker

View all
CVE-2024-55964 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 26

An issue was discovered in Appsmith before 1.52. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely expl

CVE-2019-5736 HIGH POC
8.6 Feb 11

runc through version 1.0-rc6 (used in Docker before 18.09.2) contains a container escape vulnerability that allows attac

CVE-2023-32077 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 24

Netmaker makes networks with WireGuard. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no a

CVE-2026-39987 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Apr 08

Unauthenticated remote code execution in Marimo ≤0.20.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary system commands via the `/

CVE-2023-5815 HIGH POC
8.1 Nov 22

The News & Blog Designer Pack - WordPress Blog Plugin - (Blog Post Grid, Blog Post Slider, Blog Post Carousel, Blog Post

CVE-2026-66384 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Aug 12

Path traversal in JFrog Artifactory (CWE-22) enables an authenticated low-privilege user to write data outside the inten

CVE-2014-9357 CRITICAL
10.0 Dec 16

Docker 1.3.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges via a crafted (1) image or (2) build

CVE-2026-52806 CRITICAL POC
9.9 Jun 23

Remote code execution in Gogs through 0.14.2 allows authenticated users (and unauthenticated attackers on default-config

CVE-2025-14707 HIGH POC
8.9 Dec 15

Unauthenticated remote command injection in SGWBOX N3 firmware 2.0.25 lets attackers execute arbitrary operating-system

CVE-2026-56274 HIGH POC
8.7 Jun 23

Remote code execution in Flowise before 3.1.2 allows any authenticated user (or API caller with chatflow view/update per

CVE-2026-34156 CRITICAL POC
9.9 Mar 30

Remote code execution in NocoBase Workflow Script Node (npm @nocobase/plugin-workflow-javascript) allows authenticated l

CVE-2019-15752 HIGH POC
7.8 Aug 28

Docker Desktop Community Edition before 2.1.0.1 allows local users to gain privileges by placing a Trojan horse docker-c

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy