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GHSA-q87f-qc2r-2gw4
mcp-searxngRef: https://github.com/ihor-sokoliuk/mcp-searxng/issues/87#issuecomment-4645453694
Summary
The web_url_read tool fetches a caller-supplied URL server-side and converts it to markdown. An SSRF guard (assertUrlAllowed, which blocks private/loopback/metadata addresses) exists but runs only when MCP_HTTP_HARDEN=true, which is off by default. So in the default configuration there is no internal-address filtering, and an attacker who can influence the URL can make the server fetch internal services and cloud metadata and return their content. Confirmed on 1.1.0 (default config): web_url_read fetched a local internal sentinel and returned its content.
Details
dist/index.js (around lines 90-101): web_url_read calls fetchAndConvertToMarkdown on the caller URL. dist/url-reader.js (around lines 44-52): assertUrlAllowed performs the private-IP/loopback check, but only when the hardening flag is set; dist/http-security.js (around line 11) defaults MCP_HTTP_HARDEN to off. With the default config the check is skipped entirely. Even when enabled, the check is literal-hostname based with no DNS-rebinding or redirect re-check (the fetch follows redirects). file:// is rejected, so this is HTTP/HTTPS SSRF.
PoC
Re-validated on mcp-searxng 1.1.0 over MCP stdio in the default configuration (MCP_HTTP_HARDEN not set):
tools: searxng_web_search, web_url_read
web_url_read({ url: "http://127.0.0.1:<port>/internal" }) -> server fetched the internal sentinel; SSRF: CONFIRMED
The server fetched the loopback sentinel and returned its content. With MCP_HTTP_HARDEN=true the same request is blocked (policy error), confirming the guard exists but ships off. The same reaches http://169.254.169.254/... on cloud hosts.
Impact
In the default configuration an attacker who can influence the URL (LLM-produced and steerable via prompt injection) can make the server fetch internal-only HTTP services and the cloud metadata endpoint, returning their contents into the model context for exfiltration. The protection that would prevent it is not enabled by default.
Remediation
Enable the internal-address filtering by default (fail safe): make assertUrlAllowed run unconditionally and require an explicit opt-out only for trusted environments. Strengthen the check to resolve the host and reject loopback, link-local/metadata (169.254.0.0/16), 0.0.0.0/8, and private ranges, and re-validate on every redirect hop (or pin to the validated IP).
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The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker does not need any special privileges or access rights. The attacker needs the user to perform some action, like clicking a link. The impact is confined to the system where the vulnerability exists. There is a high impact on the confidentiality of the information.
Exploitation attempts have been detected. Elevated vigilance and prompt remediation are advised.
The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.
We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.
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