Progress MarkLogic Server: Improper privilege management in xdmp:eval-in
Summary
MarkLogic Server 11.x before 11.3.7 and 12.x before 12.1.0 allow a remote attacker with query-execution access to call an XQuery evaluation function without the separate evaluation privilege. Successful exploitation can lead to server-side code execution with elevated permissions and a full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability. The attacker needs a low-privileged account, and the CVSS score is 9.9 (critical). The vendor bulletin text found for this CVE describes a different issue, so the scope must be confirmed with Progress.
Affected
- MarkLogic Server 11.0.0 to before 11.3.7
- MarkLogic Server 12.0.0 to before 12.1.0
- Default configuration: listed as unaffected in the CNA record.
Fixed in
- Upgrade to MarkLogic Server 12.1.0 or 11.3.7 (or later).
Workaround
- No vendor-documented workaround found. Patching is the stated remedy.
- Recommended interim measure (not from a vendor source): review which accounts hold query-execution rights and remove any that are not needed.
- Recommended interim measure: audit which accounts hold the evaluation privilege.
Exploitation
- No public proof of concept found.
- No confirmed exploitation in the wild found in the sources reviewed.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- KISS dates for this CVE listed by aggregators could not be verified; check the CISA KEV catalogue directly.
Our recommendation
- Identify any MarkLogic Server instances in client environments; if present, treat as high priority.
- Upgrade to 12.1.0 or 11.3.7 without delay.
- Restrict query-execution and evaluation privileges to the minimum needed.
- Review MarkLogic logs for unexpected evaluation or privilege activity; the absence of symptoms is not proof of safety.
- Confirm with Progress which issue the CVE-2026-85955 bulletin entry covers, and check the other October 2026 bulletin CVEs.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Progress MarkLogic Critical Security Alert Bulletin, October 2026 community.progress.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-85955 app.opencve.io
- Strix: CVE-2026-85955 www.strix.ai
- Rapid7 record via Vulners: CVE-2026-85955 vulners.com
- TheHackerWire: CVE-2026-85955 www.thehackerwire.com
- GBHackers: Critical Progress MarkLogic Server vulnerabilities gbhackers.com
- Cybersecurity News: Progress MarkLogic flaws cybersecuritynews.com
- DEV Community: CVE-2026-85956 analysis (possible mismatch) dev.to
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 30 Oct 2026, 15:32.
Original description (NVD)
Progress MarkLogic Server 12.x releases before 12.1.0 and 11.x releases before 11.3.7 allow a remote attacker with query-execution access to invoke an XQuery evaluation function without the additional required evaluation privilege, which could result in server-side code execution with elevated permissions.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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