The Point: A prompt injection vulnerability in AWS Kiro enabled manipulation of the mcp.json configuration file and code execution — AWS has implemented protection measures for sensitive file paths.
Security researchers from Intezer and Kodem Security have uncovered a vulnerability in AWS Kiro that allowed bypassing security confirmations and code execution with developer privileges. AWS fixed the issue with version 0.11.130.
The AI-powered development environment AWS Kiro features an approval mechanism that only permits risky operations, such as shell command execution, after manual confirmation by the developer. The vulnerability lay in the mcp.json file in the ~/.kiro/settings/ directory, which configures external tools of the Model Context Protocol. Kiro was able to write to this file independently via an internal file system tool and subsequently reload the system, causing embedded commands to be executed with the user’s access rights — without requiring confirmation.
The researchers exploited the vulnerability through indirect prompt injection: when Kiro was supposed to analyze an external website or API documentation, they embedded hidden instructions — implemented through white text in small font size on the documentation page. The system processed these invisible directives as configuration tasks, entered a manipulated entry into mcp.json, and reloaded the settings. Notification windows for configuration changes did not stop the process.
AWS addressed the vulnerability with version 0.11.130. The update introduces protected file paths that restrict write access to sensitive files such as mcp.json, .vscode/tasks.json, and the Git directory at the system level. Both now require explicit confirmation — regardless of the operating mode. AWS notes in its documentation that supervised mode is a code review workflow, but does not represent a security control.
According to the security researchers, there is no evidence of exploitation outside of test environments. No CVE number was assigned for this incident.
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published 23 July 2026
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