CVE-2026-18996 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2026-18996
Vulnerability Scoring

6.3
/10
High Risk

If left unpatched, CVE-2026-18996 could lead to major system disruptions or data loss.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Network
    Vulnerability is exploitable over a network without physical access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: None
    No user interaction is necessary for exploitation.

CVE-2026-18996 Details

Status: Received on 06 Aug 2026, 05:16 UTC

Published on: 06 Aug 2026, 05:16 UTC

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

cna@vuldb.com

CVSS3 Type

Primary

CVSS3 Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVE-2026-18996 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2026-18996: A vulnerability has been found in cosmicstack-labs mercury-agent up to 1.1.12. This vulnerability affects the function PermissionManager.checkShellCommand of the file src/capabilities/permissions.ts of the component run_command Handler. Such manipulation leads to incorrect privilege assignment. The attack may be performed from remote. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2026-18996

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2026-18996 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2026-18996

CVE-2026-18996 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-18996, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-18996, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: Low
    CVE-2026-18996 could lead to minor leaks of non-critical information without major privacy breaches.
  • Integrity: Low
    Exploiting CVE-2026-18996 may cause minor changes to data without severely impacting its accuracy.
  • Availability: Low
    CVE-2026-18996 may slightly degrade system performance without fully affecting service availability.

CVE-2026-18996 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-266

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