CVE-2026-40288

PraisonAI is a multi-agent teams system. In versions below 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents, the workflow engine is vulnerable to arbitrary command and code execution through untrusted YAML files. When praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads a YAML file with type: job, the JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py processes steps that support run: (shell commands via subprocess.run()), script: (inline Python via exec()), and python: (arbitrary Python script execution)—all without any validation, sandboxing, or user confirmation. The affected code paths include action_run() in workflow.py and _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), and _exec_python_script() in job_workflow.py. An attacker who can supply or influence a workflow YAML file (particularly in CI pipelines, shared repositories, or multi-tenant deployment environments) can achieve full arbitrary command execution on the host system, compromising the machine and any accessible data or credentials. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents.

PraisonAI is a multi-agent teams system. In versions below 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents, the workflow engine is vulnerable to arbitrary command and code execution through untrusted YAML files. When praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads a YAML file with type: job, the JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py processes steps that support run: (shell commands via subprocess.run()), script: (inline Python via exec()), and python: (arbitrary Python script execution)—all without any validation, sandboxing, or user confirmation. The affected code paths include action_run() in workflow.py and _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), and _exec_python_script() in job_workflow.py. An attacker who can supply or influence a workflow YAML file (particularly in CI pipelines, shared repositories, or multi-tenant deployment environments) can achieve full arbitrary command execution on the host system, compromising the machine and any accessible data or credentials. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents.

praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads untrusted YAML and if type: job executes steps through JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py.

This supports:

• run: → shell command execution via subprocess.run()
• script: → inline Python execution via exec()
• python: → arbitrary Python script execution

A malicious YAML file can execute arbitrary host commands.

Affected Code

• workflow.py → action_run()
• job_workflow.py → _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), _exec_python_script()

PoC

Create exploit.yaml:

type: job
name: exploit
steps:
  - name: write-file
    run: python -c "open('pwned.txt','w').write('owned')"

Run:

praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml

Reproduction Steps

1. Save the YAML above as exploit.yaml.
2. Execute praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml.
3. Confirm pwned.txt appears in the working directory.

Impact

Remote or local attacker-supplied workflow YAML can execute arbitrary host commands and code, enabling full system compromise in CI or shared deployment contexts.

Reporter: Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt)

PraisonAI is a multi-agent teams system. In versions below 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents, the workflow engine is vulnerable to arbitrary command and code execution through untrusted YAML files. When praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads a YAML file with type: job, the JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py processes steps that support run: (shell commands via subprocess.run()), script: (inline Python via exec()), and python: (arbitrary Python script execution)—all without any validation, sandboxing, or user confirmation. The affected code paths include action_run() in workflow.py and _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), and _exec_python_script() in job_workflow.py. An attacker who can supply or influence a workflow YAML file (particularly in CI pipelines, shared repositories, or multi-tenant deployment environments) can achieve full arbitrary command execution on the host system, compromising the machine and any accessible data or credentials. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents.

PraisonAI is a multi-agent teams system. In versions below 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents, the workflow engine is vulnerable to arbitrary command and code execution through untrusted YAML files. When praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads a YAML file with type: job, the JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py processes steps that support run: (shell commands via subprocess.run()), script: (inline Python via exec()), and python: (arbitrary Python script execution)—all without any validation, sandboxing, or user confirmation. The affected code paths include action_run() in workflow.py and _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), and _exec_python_script() in job_workflow.py. An attacker who can supply or influence a workflow YAML file (particularly in CI pipelines, shared repositories, or multi-tenant deployment environments) can achieve full arbitrary command execution on the host system, compromising the machine and any accessible data or credentials. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.5.139 of PraisonAI and 1.5.140 of praisonaiagents.

praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads untrusted YAML and if type: job executes steps through JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py.

This supports:

• run: → shell command execution via subprocess.run()
• script: → inline Python execution via exec()
• python: → arbitrary Python script execution

A malicious YAML file can execute arbitrary host commands.

Affected Code

• workflow.py → action_run()
• job_workflow.py → _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), _exec_python_script()

PoC

Create exploit.yaml:

type: job
name: exploit
steps:
  - name: write-file
    run: python -c "open('pwned.txt','w').write('owned')"

Run:

praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml

Reproduction Steps

1. Save the YAML above as exploit.yaml.
2. Execute praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml.
3. Confirm pwned.txt appears in the working directory.

Impact

Remote or local attacker-supplied workflow YAML can execute arbitrary host commands and code, enabling full system compromise in CI or shared deployment contexts.

Reporter: Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt)

praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads untrusted YAML and if type: job executes steps through JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py.

This supports:

• run: → shell command execution via subprocess.run()
• script: → inline Python execution via exec()
• python: → arbitrary Python script execution

A malicious YAML file can execute arbitrary host commands.

Affected Code

• workflow.py → action_run()
• job_workflow.py → _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), _exec_python_script()

PoC

Create exploit.yaml:

type: job
 name: exploit
steps:
  - name: write-file
    run: python -c "open('pwned.txt','w').write('owned')"

Run:

praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml

Reproduction Steps

1. Save the YAML above as exploit.yaml.
2. Execute praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml.
3. Confirm pwned.txt appears in the working directory.

Impact

Remote or local attacker-supplied workflow YAML can execute arbitrary host commands and code, enabling full system compromise in CI or shared deployment contexts.

Reporter: Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt)

praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads untrusted YAML and if type: job executes steps through JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py.

This supports:

• run: → shell command execution via subprocess.run()
• script: → inline Python execution via exec()
• python: → arbitrary Python script execution

A malicious YAML file can execute arbitrary host commands.

Affected Code

• workflow.py → action_run()
• job_workflow.py → _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), _exec_python_script()

PoC

Create exploit.yaml:

type: job
 name: exploit
steps:
  - name: write-file
    run: python -c "open('pwned.txt','w').write('owned')"

Run:

praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml

Reproduction Steps

1. Save the YAML above as exploit.yaml.
2. Execute praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml.
3. Confirm pwned.txt appears in the working directory.

Impact

Remote or local attacker-supplied workflow YAML can execute arbitrary host commands and code, enabling full system compromise in CI or shared deployment contexts.

Reporter: Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt)