CVE-2026-111768 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.5) vulnerability in @modelcontextprotocol/sdk. A fix is available for @modelcontextprotocol/sdk — see the affected versions and patch details below.
MCP TypeScript SDK: One HTTP request within the default size limit could exhaust server memory during validation
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, and reverse-dependency count shows how many other packages break if it stays unpatched.
@modelcontextprotocol/sdknpm@modelcontextprotocol/servernpmDescription
Summary
In affected versions, servers put no limit on how many array elements and object keys they validated in one request. One HTTP request within the default 4 MiB size limit could exhaust the server's memory, and the process aborted with JavaScript heap out of memory.
No credentials are needed, unless you authenticate requests before they reach the SDK.
Am I affected?
Yes, if clients you do not fully trust can reach your server over HTTP. The risk is highest for McpServer tools whose input contains an array or a record. stdio-only servers are not affected.
Affected versions:
@modelcontextprotocol/sdk1.3.0 through 1.31.0@modelcontextprotocol/server2.0.0 through 2.2.0
Fix
Upgrade to:
- 1.x:
@modelcontextprotocol/sdk1.32.0 or later - 2.x:
@modelcontextprotocol/server2.3.0 or later
Upgrading alone changes nothing. The patched versions add an McpServer option, maxToolInputElements, that is off by default. Make both of these changes:
- Set
maxToolInputElementsjust above the largest input your tools need, for examplenew McpServer(info, { maxToolInputElements: 10_000 }). It counts array elements and object keys in a call's arguments. A call over the limit gets anisError: trueresult. - Lower the request size limit to what your tools need. The option covers tool arguments only, and the size limit covers everything else. Set
maxRequestBodySizeon the transport orcreateMcpHandler(). If you parse the body yourself, for example withexpress.json()or Fastify, set that parser's limit.
If you cannot upgrade yet, make the second change. maxRequestBodySize needs @modelcontextprotocol/sdk 1.30.1 or @modelcontextprotocol/server 2.1.0. Below that, use a reverse proxy.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | @modelcontextprotocol/sdk | ≥ 1.3.0&&< 1.32.0 | 1.32.0npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk@1.32.0 |
| 📦npm | @modelcontextprotocol/server | ≥ 2.0.0&&< 2.3.0 | 2.3.0npm install @modelcontextprotocol/server@2.3.0 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for @modelcontextprotocol/sdk, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update @modelcontextprotocol/sdk to 1.32.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-111768 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-111768 in your dependencies?
Find it across npm, including transitive dependencies.