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Response snapshot Oct 29, 2026, 18:26 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-61438

PraisonAI vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Broken AST Sandbox

JobWorkflowExecutor._exec_inline_python() is designed to safely execute inline Python expressions from YAML workflow script: steps using AST validation.

Published Updated

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.3 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

GitHub lists first patched versions: praisonai: 4.6.78. Confirm the affected range and upgrade guidance in the exact advisory.

Read GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr (opens a new tab)

What happened

Summary

JobWorkflowExecutor._exec_inline_python() is designed to safely execute inline Python expressions from YAML workflow script: steps using AST validation. The function claims to block dangerous operations by (a) checking all AST nodes against an allowlist, and (b) providing a builtins whitelist that omits import, exec, eval, and open.

The sandbox is broken. The module import allowlist (allowed_modules) explicitly includes 'os', and the AST allowlist permits ast.Import, ast.ImportFrom, ast.Call, and ast.Attribute nodes. This means the following malicious workflow script: step passes all AST validation checks and executes without error.

Attack Scenario

Continue reading

Attacker creates or contributes a YAML workflow file (type: job) with a script: step containing import os; os.system(...). A user or CI pipeline with PRAISONAI_ALLOW_JOB_WORKFLOWS=true executes the workflow via praisonai workflow run malicious.yaml. Arbitrary OS commands execute with the privileges of the calling process.

This is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or CI environments where YAML workflows may originate from untrusted sources (e.g., downloaded templates, shared repositories, AI-generated workflows).

PoC

_Complete instructions, including specific configuration details, to reproduce the vulnerability._

Impact

Root Cause — Lines 364–372:

pythonallowed_modules = {'os', 'datetime', 'time', 'json', 'math', 're', 'collections', 'itertools'} if isinstance(node, ast.Import): for alias in node.names: if alias.name.split('.')[0] not in allowed_modules: return {"ok": False, "error": f"Import of '{alias.name}' not allowed..."}

os is trusted because it is commonly used for path operations (os.path, os.getcwd). However, os.system(), os.popen(), os.execvp(), os.spawn*(), and os._exit() are all accessible once the module is imported, none of which are individually blocked.

The builtins restriction (blocking import) is irrelevant because the code uses a real import statement processed by the Python bytecode compiler — not a import() call.

Proof-of-Concept validation (static — no remote network call made):

pythonimport ast

_ALLOWED_NODES = ( ast.Expression, ast.BoolOp, ast.BinOp, ast.UnaryOp, ast.Compare, ast.IfExp, ast.Constant, ast.Name, ast.Load, ast.Store, ast.Subscript, ast.List, ast.Tuple, ast.Dict, ast.Set, ast.And, ast.Or, ast.Not, ast.Eq, ast.NotEq, ast.Lt, ast.LtE, ast.Gt, ast.GtE, ast.In, ast.NotIn, ast.Add, ast.Sub, ast.Mult, ast.Div, ast.Mod, ast.FloorDiv, ast.USub, ast.UAdd, ast.Call, ast.Attribute, ast.keyword, ast.

Starred, ast.Module, ast.Assign, ast.Import, ast.ImportFrom, ast.alias, ) allowed_modules = {'os', 'datetime', 'time', 'json', 'math', 're', 'collections', 'itertools'}

malicious = "import os\nresult = os.system('id')" tree = ast.parse(malicious, mode="exec")

all_pass = True for node in ast.walk(tree): if not isinstance(node, _ALLOWED_NODES): print(f"BLOCKED: {type(node).name}") all_pass = False if isinstance(node, ast.Import): for alias in node.names: if alias.name.split('.')[0] not in allowed_modules: print(f"IMPORT BLOCKED: {alias.name}") all_pass = False

print("SANDBOX BYPASSED" if all_pass else "sandbox holds")

Output: SANDBOX BYPASSED

Recommended Fix

Remove 'os' from allowed_modules and replace it with only the safe submodule: 'os.path'. Then validate that the imported name is specifically os.path, not os:

python# BEFORE (vulnerable) allowed_modules = {'os', 'datetime', 'time', 'json', 'math', 're', 'collections', 'itertools'}

AFTER (safe)

allowed_modules = {'datetime', 'time', 'json', 'math', 're', 'collections', 'itertools', 'pathlib'}

If os.path is needed, handle it explicitly:

if isinstance(node, ast.ImportFrom): if node.module == 'os.path': pass # allow 'from os.path import join, exists' only elif node.module and node.module.split('.')[0] not in allowed_modules: return {"ok": False, "error": f"Import of '{node.module}' not allowed."}

Additionally, block ast.Import of os entirely, and consider also removing re (which can be used for ReDoS/CPU exhaustion) and collections (which can be used to reach subclasses-style gadgets).

Affected package ranges reported by GitHub: praisonai: < 4.6.78

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.3

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

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Sources

  1. Primary source

    GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr (opens a new tab)

    The public advisory supplies the description, affected package/version ranges, and any listed CVSS metric. GitHub review is not local review.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, October 29). PraisonAI vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Broken AST Sandbox (CVE-2026-61438). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-61438

MLA

"PraisonAI vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Broken AST Sandbox (CVE-2026-61438)." KEVWire, 29 Oct. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-61438.

Chicago

KEVWire. "PraisonAI vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Broken AST Sandbox (CVE-2026-61438)." Last modified October 29, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-61438.

Evidence summary (plain text)

PraisonAI vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Broken AST Sandbox (Oct 29, 2026).
JobWorkflowExecutor._exec_inline_python() is designed to safely execute inline Python expressions from YAML workflow script: steps using AST validation. The function claims to block dangerous operations by (a) checking all AST nodes against an allowlist, and (b) providing a builtins whitelist that omits import, exec, eval, and open.

The sandbox is broken. The module import allowlist (allowed_modules) explicitly includes 'os', and the AST allowlist permits ast.Import, ast.ImportFrom, ast.Call, and ast.Attribute nodes.
CVSS 7.3 (version 3.1; evidence as of Oct 29, 2026; https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr).
Sources:
GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-26mh-57q7-jfvr
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc
Record ID: CVE-2026-61438.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Oct 29, 2026, 18:26 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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