# CVE-2025-12489: evernote-mcp-server openBrowser Command Injection Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

> Local attackers can escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code via command injection in the openBrowser function of evernote-mcp-server.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Nov 2025
- **Updated:** 6 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h2v8-4c3f-vqgv

## What is CVE-2025-12489?

CVE-2025-12489 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in evernote-mcp-server, published on 6 Nov 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

evernote-mcp-server openBrowser Command Injection Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of evernote-mcp-server. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the openBrowser function. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before using it to execute a system call. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the service account. Was ZDI-CAN-27913.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-12489?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-12489?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-12489 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-12489 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-12489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-12489 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in evernote-mcp-server, published on 6 Nov 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: evernote-mcp-server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-12489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-12489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-12489

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.