---
id: "CVE-2026-116045"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-116045"]
title: "designer-mcp: path traversal in get_reference lets remote callers read files"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 4.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "ai-tooling"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["ai-tooling", "designer-mcp", "mcp"]
not_affected_if: ["local-only-stdio"]
published_at: "2026-10-25T07:16:46+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-25T07:39:10+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T07:39:17+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116045", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-25T07:39:10+00:00"}]
---

# designer-mcp: path traversal in get_reference lets remote callers read files

The designer-mcp MCP server's get_reference function does not sanitize its Name argument, so a crafted name escapes the references directory via path traversal. A remote caller can read files the server process can access, and a public exploit is reported.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed designer-mcp version against `2.1.0`; the sources say versions are rolling and unlisted, so compare against the patch commit `c8c2951dcbed9b1710a745993f028317f10a3f10`
- Look for the `get_reference` handler in the MCP Interface and confirm whether the Name argument is validated before it is joined to a file path

## Fix

- Apply the patch commit `c8c2951dcbed9b1710a745993f028317f10a3f10` from the designer-mcp repository
- Until patched, unknown whether a workaround exists; restrict network access to the MCP endpoint

## Timeline

- 2026-10-25T07:39:10+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116045

## From the sources

A vulnerability was detected in 1999AZZAR designer-mcp up to 2.1.0. This affects the function get_reference of the file skills/motion-designer/references/motion-dev-guidelines.md of the component MCP Interface. The manipulation of the argument Name results in path traversal. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used. This product takes the approach of rolling releases to provide continious delivery. Therefore, version details for affected and updated releases are not available. The patch is identified as c8c2951dcbed9b1710a745993f028317f10a3f10. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_