# CVE-2026-44968: dbt-labs dbt-mcp argument injection in dbt CLI tool wrappers

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44968-dbt-labs-dbt-mcp-argument-injection-in-dbt-cli-tool-wrappers  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-16. Updated: 2026-07-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44968 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.3 · Published 2026-07-16

dbt-mcp is a tool that allows users to interact with dbt (data build tool) through the Model Context Protocol. A security flaw in how it handles user input allows an attacker to inject unauthorized commands or configuration flags when the tool runs dbt in the background. This could allow an attacker to redirect data processing to malicious locations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive database configurations.

Technologies: [dbt-mcp (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/dbt-mcp). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44968 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44968 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44968?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.3, published 16 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** dbt-mcp (PyPI) <= 1.17.0, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.17.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44968?** Yes. dbt-mcp (PyPI): upgrade to 1.17.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44968 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44968?** Check whether you run dbt-mcp (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- dbt-mcp (PyPI): upgrade to 1.17.1 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "dbt-mcp>=1.17.1"
  ```


## Technical details

An argument injection vulnerability (CWE-88) exists in dbt-mcp's `_run_dbt_command()` function within `src/dbt_mcp/dbt_cli/tools.py`. The application fails to sanitize the `node_selection` and `resource_type` parameters before appending them to the argument list for `subprocess.Popen`. While `shell=False` is used, the lack of validation allows an attacker to provide strings starting with hyphens (e.g., `--profiles-dir` or `--target`), which the underlying dbt process interprets as global flags rather than positional arguments. This can be exploited by a local attacker to point dbt to a malicious configuration file, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or data exfiltration via malicious database drivers. The issue is fixed in version 1.17.1 by validating that input tokens do not start with dashes and verifying resource types against an allowlist.

## Affected products

- dbt-labs dbt-mcp < 1.17.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-44968
- GHSA-xpww-f6pm-cfhq
- PYSEC-2026-2444

## Timeline

- 2026-05-05: patched: Fix committed and version 1.17.1 released.
- 2026-05-13: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-xpww-f6pm-cfhq published.
- 2026-07-16: disclosed: CVE-2026-44968 published to NVD.

## References

- [https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/commit/6534507b5e7a729758d5baece155602cad0bb22f](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/commit/6534507b5e7a729758d5baece155602cad0bb22f)
- [https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/pull/752](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/pull/752)
- [https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/releases/tag/v1.17.1](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/releases/tag/v1.17.1)
- [https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/security/advisories/GHSA-xpww-f6pm-cfhq](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-mcp/security/advisories/GHSA-xpww-f6pm-cfhq)

## Related threats

- [dbt-labs dbt-mcp token leak in OAuth helper server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55837-dbt-labs-dbt-mcp-token-leak-in-oauth-helper-server)
- [dbt-labs dbt-mcp sensitive information disclosure in telemetry](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44970-dbt-labs-dbt-mcp-sensitive-information-disclosure-in-telemetry)
- [dbt-labs dbt-mcp sensitive information disclosure in log files](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44969-dbt-labs-dbt-mcp-sensitive-information-disclosure-in-log-files)