GHSA-rvq5-wwqv-78pq - MCP TypeScript SDK: Server bearer authentication accepted tokens issued for another service
### Summary
In affected versions, the SDK's server-side bearer authentication had no way to check that a token was issued for your server (its audience). Where one authorization server issues tokens for several services, a valid token for another service was also accepted by your MCP server.
### Am I affected?
Yes, if your HTTP server uses `requireBearerAuth()` or `verifyBearerToken()`, its authorization server also issues tokens for other services, and your `verifyAccessToken()` does not check the token's audience (`aud`) itself.
Affected versions:
- `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk` 1.6.0 through 1.31.0
- `@modelcontextprotocol/server` 2.0.0 through 2.2.0
- `@modelcontextprotocol/express` 2.0.0 through 2.0.1
- `@modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy` 2.0.0 through 2.3.0
### Fix
Upgrade to:
- 1.x: `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk` 1.32.0 or later
- 2.x: `@modelcontextprotocol/server` 2.3.0 or later, together with `@modelcontextprotocol/express` 2.0.2 or later if you use it
- `@modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy` 2.3.1 or later
**Upgrading alone changes nothing.** The patched versions add an `expectedResource` setting that is off by default. To turn the check on, make both of these changes together:
1. Pass the audience your authorization server puts in tokens for your server: `requireBearerAuth({ verifier, expectedResource: new URL('https://mcp.example.com/mcp') })`.
2. Return the token's audience from `verifyAccessToken()` as `AuthInfo.resource`, also a `URL`.
A token for another service then gets `401`. With only the first change, every request gets `401`.
If you cannot upgrade yet, reject any token whose `aud` does not include your server inside `verifyAccessToken()`. That closes the issue on every version.
MEDIUM
Severity & confidence
Source severitymedium
Platform severitymedium
Confidencemedium
Exploitationunknown
CVSS6.8
Affected
Vendors@modelcontextprotocol
Products@modelcontextprotocol/sdk@modelcontextprotocol/server@modelcontextprotocol/express@modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy
Reporting sources (1)
GitHub Security Advisories
Timeline & provenance
Published2026-10-20T19:43:36
Last updated2026-10-21T05:51:56
Ingested2026-10-20T20:00:16
FreshnessNEAR-REAL-TIME
Threat typeadvisory
Recommended action
Review the advisory and upgrade affected packages to the first patched version.
Next steps
- Identify affected systems in your environment.
- Apply the vendor patch or mitigation guidance.
- Review logs for indicators described in the advisory.
- Follow the affected vendor/product to track updates.
Confidence explanation
Reported by a single or secondary source; treat as indicative, verify before acting.
Source type: vendor ยท Original: GitHub Security Advisories