PDF Reader MCP is a Model Context Protocol server for reading PDF documents. In versions 2.2.0 and later prior to 3.0.1, when `MCP_TRANSPORT=http` enables the opt-in HTTP server, `@sylphx/pdf-reader-mcp` reads `MCP_API_KEY` and logs that `X-API-Key` authentication is enabled but never validates the `X-API-Key` header on incoming requests. The `/mcp` endpoint consequently accepts unauthenticated clients. With the default bind address of `0.0.0.0`, any client able to reach the port can invoke every PDF tool and read any PDF the server process can open on the host, despite the misleading authentication-enabled startup log. URL-based sources additionally permit limited server-side request forgery; private and loopback destinations are blocked by default unless `--allow-private-ips` is set. The default `stdio` transport is unaffected. This issue is fixed in version 3.0.1.
Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-q344-5v34-gm84 @sylphx/pdf-reader-mcp: HTTP transport accepts unauthenticated requests despite a configured MCP_API_KEY
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description PDF Reader MCP is a Model Context Protocol server for reading PDF documents. In versions 2.2.0 and later prior to 3.0.1, when `MCP_TRANSPORT=http` enables the opt-in HTTP server, `@sylphx/pdf-reader-mcp` reads `MCP_API_KEY` and logs that `X-API-Key` authentication is enabled but never validates the `X-API-Key` header on incoming requests. The `/mcp` endpoint consequently accepts unauthenticated clients. With the default bind address of `0.0.0.0`, any client able to reach the port can invoke every PDF tool and read any PDF the server process can open on the host, despite the misleading authentication-enabled startup log. URL-based sources additionally permit limited server-side request forgery; private and loopback destinations are blocked by default unless `--allow-private-ips` is set. The default `stdio` transport is unaffected. This issue is fixed in version 3.0.1.
Title PDF Reader MCP: HTTP transport accepts unauthenticated requests despite a configured MCP_API_KEY
Weaknesses CWE-200
CWE-287
CWE-306
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-30T18:32:18.093Z

Reserved: 2026-07-13T17:09:57.574Z

Link: CVE-2026-62264

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-10-30T19:18:32.827

Modified: 2026-10-30T19:39:14.897

Link: CVE-2026-62264

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses