{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7161999592","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","title":"VIPER-MCP: Detecting and Exploiting Taint-Style Vulnerabilities in Model Context Protocol Servers","display_name":"VIPER-MCP: Detecting and Exploiting Taint-Style Vulnerabilities in Model Context Protocol Servers","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-05-20","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7161999592","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5136665223","display_name":"Pengyu Sun","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Sun, Pengyu","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5136691085","display_name":"Qishu Jin","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jin, Qishu","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5136678168","display_name":"Enhao Huang","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Huang, Enhao","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5062308866","display_name":"Zifeng Kang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0812-0173"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Kang, Zifeng","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5136630430","display_name":"Xin Liu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2314-9786"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Liu, Xin","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5076078455","display_name":"Dakun Shen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2392-8998"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Shen, Dakun","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5136680863","display_name":"Li, Song, 1957-","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Li, Song","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11424","display_name":"Security and Verification in Computing","score":0.572700023651123,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11424","display_name":"Security and Verification in Computing","score":0.572700023651123,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12203","display_name":"Mobile Agent-Based Network Management","score":0.06700000166893005,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1705","display_name":"Computer Networks and Communications"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12479","display_name":"Web Application Security Vulnerabilities","score":0.05169999971985817,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/exploit","display_name":"Exploit","score":0.8295000195503235},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/server","display_name":"Server","score":0.7936000227928162},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/vulnerability","display_name":"Vulnerability (computing)","score":0.6201000213623047},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/protocol","display_name":"Protocol (science)","score":0.6136999726295471},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/context","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","score":0.6062999963760376},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/taint-checking","display_name":"Taint checking","score":0.5153999924659729},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/scheduling","display_name":"Scheduling (production processes)","score":0.44449999928474426},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/static-analysis","display_name":"Static analysis","score":0.4316999912261963},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/path","display_name":"Path (computing)","score":0.41839998960494995}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.8371999859809875},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C165696696","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11287","display_name":"Exploit","level":2,"score":0.8295000195503235},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C93996380","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44127","display_name":"Server","level":2,"score":0.7936000227928162},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95713431","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q631425","display_name":"Vulnerability (computing)","level":2,"score":0.6201000213623047},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780385302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367158","display_name":"Protocol (science)","level":3,"score":0.6136999726295471},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779343474","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3109175","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","level":2,"score":0.6062999963760376},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C63116202","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7676227","display_name":"Taint checking","level":3,"score":0.5153999924659729},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C38652104","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3510521","display_name":"Computer security","level":1,"score":0.48500001430511475},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C206729178","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2271896","display_name":"Scheduling (production processes)","level":2,"score":0.44449999928474426},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C97686452","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7604153","display_name":"Static analysis","level":2,"score":0.4316999912261963},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C31258907","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1301371","display_name":"Computer network","level":1,"score":0.4311000108718872},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777735758","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817765","display_name":"Path (computing)","level":2,"score":0.41839998960494995},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111065885","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1189053","display_name":"Fuzz testing","level":3,"score":0.4138000011444092},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776760102","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5139990","display_name":"Code (set theory)","level":3,"score":0.400299996137619},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C35525427","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q745881","display_name":"Intrusion detection system","level":2,"score":0.353300005197525},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C113843644","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q901882","display_name":"Interface (matter)","level":4,"score":0.34950000047683716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C43126263","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q128751","display_name":"Source code","level":2,"score":0.34470000863075256},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120314980","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180634","display_name":"Distributed computing","level":1,"score":0.3418000042438507},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199521495","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181487","display_name":"Audit","level":2,"score":0.3352000117301941},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C53833338","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1061424","display_name":"Context switch","level":2,"score":0.310699999332428},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C40842320","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19423","display_name":"Buffer overflow","level":2,"score":0.3091000020503998},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C22680326","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7444867","display_name":"Secure coding","level":5,"score":0.3041999936103821},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779662365","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5416694","display_name":"Event (particle physics)","level":2,"score":0.30320000648498535},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C77618280","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1155772","display_name":"Scheme (mathematics)","level":2,"score":0.28209999203681946},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780451532","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q759676","display_name":"Task (project management)","level":2,"score":0.28209999203681946},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C124304363","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q673661","display_name":"Abstraction","level":2,"score":0.2800000011920929},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C126831891","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q221673","display_name":"Host (biology)","level":2,"score":0.2784999907016754},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111919701","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9135","display_name":"Operating system","level":1,"score":0.27379998564720154},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776004034","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1068755","display_name":"Check-in","level":2,"score":0.263700008392334}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":null,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.21392","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Peace, Justice and strong institutions","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/16","score":0.43996676802635193}],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Model":[0],"Context":[1],"Protocol":[2],"(MCP)":[3],"has":[4],"emerged":[5],"as":[6,24],"a":[7,42,137,167,199],"standard":[8,144],"interface":[9],"for":[10,107],"connecting":[11],"LLM":[12],"agents":[13],"to":[14,32,48,83,155,190,228,236],"external":[15],"tools.":[16],"Because":[17],"MCP":[18,108,157,206],"servers":[19,109],"expose":[20],"privileged":[21],"operations":[22],"such":[23],"shell":[25],"execution,":[26],"network":[27],"access,":[28],"and":[29,81,160,165,181,240],"file-system":[30],"manipulation":[31],"agent-driven":[33],"invocation,":[34],"implementation":[35],"flaws":[36],"in":[37,136],"tool":[38,158],"handlers":[39,159],"can":[40],"create":[41],"direct":[43],"path":[44],"from":[45],"natural-language":[46,193],"input":[47],"security-sensitive":[49],"sinks,":[50],"potentially":[51],"granting":[52],"attackers":[53],"remote":[54],"code":[55],"execution":[56],"or":[57,71,90],"full":[58],"system":[59],"compromise.":[60],"Existing":[61],"approaches":[62],"either":[63],"produce":[64],"unconfirmed":[65],"static":[66,139,153],"alerts":[67,146],"without":[68],"dynamic":[69],"validation,":[70],"rely":[72],"on":[73],"fixed":[74],"template":[75],"libraries":[76],"that":[77,110,142,172,176],"lack":[78],"code-level":[79],"guidance":[80],"fail":[82],"trigger":[84],"vulnerabilities":[85,115],"requiring":[86],"specific":[87,156],"parameter":[88,183],"shapes":[89],"multi-step":[91],"taint":[92,145],"paths.":[93],"In":[94,198],"this":[95],"paper,":[96],"we":[97],"present":[98],"VIPER-MCP,":[99],"the":[100,237],"first":[101],"end-to-end":[102,220],"automated":[103],"vulnerability":[104],"auditing":[105],"framework":[106],"not":[111],"only":[112],"detects":[113],"taint-style":[114],"but":[116],"also":[117],"dynamically":[118],"confirms":[119],"their":[120],"exploitability":[121],"by":[122],"producing":[123,161],"concrete":[124],"proof-of-concept":[125],"prompts.":[126],"VIPER-MCP":[127,209],"introduces":[128],"two":[129],"novel":[130],"techniques:":[131],"(1)":[132],"an":[133],"anchor-query":[134],"pass":[135],"two-pass":[138],"analysis":[140],"strategy":[141],"augments":[143],"with":[147,186,223],"function-level":[148],"structural":[149],"context,":[150],"resolving":[151],"file-level":[152],"artifacts":[154],"vulnerability-anchored":[162],"call":[163],"chains;":[164],"(2)":[166],"feedback-driven":[168],"prompt":[169],"evolution":[170],"mechanism":[171],"employs":[173],"dual-mutator":[174],"scheduling":[175],"independently":[177],"corrects":[178],"tool-selection":[179],"drift":[180],"deepens":[182],"penetration,":[184],"together":[185],"fitness-scored":[187],"seed":[188],"selection":[189],"iteratively":[191],"refine":[192],"prompts":[194],"toward":[195],"vulnerable":[196],"sinks.":[197],"large-scale":[200],"scan":[201],"of":[202,215],"39,884":[203],"real-world":[204],"open-source":[205],"server":[207],"repositories,":[208],"discovered":[210],"106":[211],"0-day":[212],"vulnerabilities,":[213],"all":[214,233],"which":[216],"were":[217],"confirmed":[218,234],"through":[219],"exploit":[221],"traces,":[222],"67":[224],"CVE":[225,242],"IDs":[226],"assigned":[227],"date.":[229],"We":[230],"responsibly":[231],"disclosed":[232],"findings":[235],"affected":[238],"developers":[239],"coordinated":[241],"assignment":[243],"where":[244],"applicable.":[245]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-07-01T06:00:48.157686","created_date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00"}
