CVE-2025-68433 Zed IDE MCP Context Server Configuration Arbitrary Code Execution

High 7.8 Published 17 Dec 2025 Updated 18 Dec 2025

Attackers can execute arbitrary shell commands on the host system by tricking users into opening a malicious project in the Zed IDE.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2025-68433?

CVE-2025-68433 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in zed-industries zed, published on 17 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

Zed, a code editor, has an aribtrary code execution vulnerability in versions prior to 0.218.2-pre. The Zed IDE loads Model Context Protocol (MCP) configurations from the `settings.json` file located within a project’s `.zed` subdirectory. A malicious MCP configuration can contain arbitrary shell commands that run on the host system with the privileges of the user running the IDE. This can be triggered automatically without any user interaction besides opening the project in the IDE. Version 0.218.2-pre fixes the issue by implementing worktree trust mechanism. As a workaround, users should carefully review the contents of project settings files (`./zed/settings.json`) before opening new projects in Zed.

Weakness: CWE-77

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-68433?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Zed Zed.

How do I fix CVE-2025-68433?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-68433 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.

Is CVE-2025-68433 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-68433 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-cv6g-cmxc-vw8j.