# CVE-2026-54446: NetLicensing MCP Server: Unauthenticated Use of Server-Side NetLicensing API Key in HTTP Mode

> Unauthenticated attackers can access the operator's NetLicensing API key to manage licensing objects when HTTP mode is used with a server-side key.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x9vc-9ffq-p3gj, PYSEC-2026-3490

## What is CVE-2026-54446?

CVE-2026-54446 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Labs64 NetLicensing-MCP, published on 17 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NetLicensing MCP Server is a natural-language interface that enables agentic applications to manage the software-licensing lifecycle in Labs64 NetLicensing. Prior to 0.1.6, network-reachable HTTP transport requests to /mcp that omit x-netlicensing-api-key, Authorization: Bearer, and the apikey query parameter pass through ApiKeyMiddleware in src/netlicensing_mcp/server.py without authentication. The downstream api_key_ctx in src/netlicensing_mcp/client.py then falls back to the operator's NETLICENSING_API_KEY and authenticates upstream NetLicensing REST API calls under the operator account. An unauthenticated attacker can invoke MCP tools to enumerate products, licenses, licensees, and transactions, create or modify licensing objects, perform validations, and execute destructive delete operations. The issue affects HTTP deployments configured with a server-side key and does not require user interaction. This issue is fixed in version 0.1.6.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-54446?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including netlicensing-mcp.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `netlicensing-mcp` | PyPI | All versions | 0.1.6 |
| `netlicensing-mcp` | PyPI | All versions | 0.1.6 |
| `netlicensing-mcp` | PyPI | All versions | 0.1.6 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-54446?

Upgrade netlicensing-mcp to 0.1.6 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-54446 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-54446 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-54446 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-54446 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Labs64 NetLicensing-MCP, published on 17 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-54446 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- netlicensing-mcp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.1.6
- netlicensing-mcp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.1.6
- netlicensing-mcp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.1.6

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-2026-54446/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54446/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54446
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54446
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-54446

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54446/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.