# NousResearch/hermes-agent · MCP subprocess PATH sanitization bug and fixes

## Open now

- 1 issue, 0 PRs open on GitHub.
- #30369: \[Bug\]: MCP server subprocesses inherit corrupted PATH with literal $PATH string and missing /usr/bin

A bug was identified where MCP server subprocesses inherit a corrupted PATH containing a literal '$PATH' string and missing standard directories like /usr/bin. The related members address this issue with fixes to sanitize the PATH before forwarding it to stdio subprocesses.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 1 open issue(s), 0 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 2 PR(s) closed without merging.
- No fix has been merged to main; one or more PRs were attempted (see below).
- **Recommended:** review the prior/competing PR(s) below. A fix was attempted but not merged; your case may extend or revive that work.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `unresolved`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.67`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Open related issues

- #30369: \[Bug\]: MCP server subprocesses inherit corrupted PATH with literal $PATH string and missing /usr/bin

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#30438: fix(mcp): sanitize inherited PATH before forwarding to stdio subprocesses**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `63c4a4064`, `3bace071b`, `#30369`
- **#30474: fix(mcp): sanitize subprocess PATH**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#30438`, `#30369`

## Fix status

- No merged fix on record.
- Subsystem: `mcp`