Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-5273 affects mcp-markdownify-server versions before 1.0.0. A malicious prompt could cause an MCP host using this server to read arbitrary files from the host system. The main business risk is exposure of sensitive local files, credentials, or configuration data through an AI tooling workflow.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term remediation item for teams using MCP-based AI tooling. Prioritize systems that process untrusted prompts or run with access to secrets, source code, or production configuration files.
Technical view
The issue is classified as CWE-552: files or directories accessible to external parties. The vulnerable get-markdown-file tool can be prompt-influenced so the MCP host reads arbitrary host files. Snyk rates it high with CVSS 4.0 score 8.2. Integrity and availability impacts are not indicated; confidentiality impact is high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to environments running mcp-markdownify-server before 1.0.0, especially where MCP hosts process untrusted or externally supplied prompts and have filesystem access to sensitive data.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required, meaning risk depends on a user or workflow causing the MCP host to access the crafted prompt.
Researcher notes
Evidence points to arbitrary file read through the get-markdown-file tool and a fixing commit in the upstream GitHub repository. Version metadata in the bundle is sparse, but the description consistently states versions before 1.0.0 are affected. Avoid assuming broader product impact beyond mcp-markdownify-server.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade mcp-markdownify-server to version 1.0.0 or later where available.
- If upgrade is delayed, disable or restrict the get-markdown-file tool.
- Run the MCP server with least-privilege filesystem access.
- Keep secrets out of paths readable by the MCP server process.
- Monitor Snyk, CVE, and project guidance for updated remediation details.
Validation and detection
- Inventory package manifests and lockfiles for mcp-markdownify-server.
- Confirm installed versions; flag any version before 1.0.0.
- Review MCP host configurations for get-markdown-file exposure.
- Check logs for unexpected file-read activity by the MCP server.
- After remediation, rerun dependency scanning and confirm version status.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-552: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-5273 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.2 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:P——snykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P2.83.6snykVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.2HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MCPMARKDOWNIFYSERVER-10249193CVE reference, snyk
- https://github.com/zcaceres/markdownify-mcp/commit/3a6b202d088ef7acb8be84bc09515f41a2b1a9dfCVE reference, snyk
- https://github.com/zcaceres/markdownify-mcp/blob/3667bd4765c0e49684ce22df268d02dd478a7f3b/src/Markdownify.ts%23L94CVE reference, snyk
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties
Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.