CVE-2026-18992

Deferred Deferred - Pending Action

Incorrect Authorization in CowAgent Self-Evolution Review Agent

Publication date: 2026-08-06

Last updated on: 2026-08-12

Assigner: VulDB

Description

A vulnerability was detected in zhayujie CowAgent up to 2.1.1. This vulnerability affects the function _select_tools of the file agent/evolution/executor.py of the component Self-Evolution Review Agent. Performing a manipulation results in incorrect authorization. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published

2026-08-06

Last Modified

2026-08-12

Generated

2026-08-16

AI Q&A

2026-08-06

EPSS Evaluated

2026-08-15

NVD

CVE-2026-18992

EUVD

EUVD-2026-53705

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
zhayujie	cowagent	to 2.1.1 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-863	The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.
CWE-285	The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is an incorrect authorization issue in zhayujie CowAgent up to version 2.1.1. It exists in the _select_tools function of agent/evolution/executor.py within the Self-Evolution Review Agent component. The flaw allows unauthorized remote manipulation due to improper access control checks.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, inspect CowAgent deployments for versions up to 2.1.1. Check if Self-Evolution is enabled and if MCP tools are configured with write permissions. Review logs for unauthorized tool usage by review agents, particularly calls to forbidden MCP tools via the POST /message interface.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could remotely exploit this to perform unauthorized actions through the Self-Evolution Review Agent. This may lead to data leaks, system misuse, or unauthorized changes depending on the agent's permissions. The public exploit increases risk of real-world attacks.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthorized access to restricted tools, potentially enabling data exfiltration or modification. For GDPR, this could violate principles of data integrity and confidentiality. For HIPAA, it may lead to unauthorized access to protected health information.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update CowAgent to the latest version beyond 2.1.1 to address the authorization flaw in the Self-Evolution Review Agent component. If an update is unavailable, disable the affected function or isolate the system to prevent remote exploitation.

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