CVE-2026-18733 in Strands Agents Tools
Summary
by MITRE • 08/04/2026
A prompt injection vulnerability in the shell tool in Amazon Strands Agents Tools before 0.8.0 might allow remote actors to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the agent's host via a crafted prompt that sets the non_interactive parameter to true, bypassing the human consent gate.
To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 0.8.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical prompt injection flaw within Amazon Strands Agents Tools that could enable remote command execution on affected systems. This issue exists in versions prior to 080 and stems from improper handling of user input within the shell tool component. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a crafted prompt is constructed with the non_interactive parameter set to true, which effectively bypasses the intended human consent gate that should prevent unauthorized command execution.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the manipulation of parameter values within the shell tool's processing logic. When the non_interactive parameter is explicitly set to true, the system's validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize or validate the input, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands that would normally be restricted. This bypass mechanism undermines the fundamental security controls designed to prevent automated command execution without human oversight.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using Amazon Strands Agents Tools in production environments. Remote attackers could potentially execute arbitrary operating system commands on the agent's host system, which could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within network infrastructures. The bypass of human consent gates means that malicious command execution could occur without administrator awareness or approval, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-94 categories, specifically addressing improper input validation and code injection weaknesses. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, demonstrating how prompt injection can be leveraged for remote code execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the recommended upgrade to version 080, which implements proper parameter validation and input sanitization controls.
Security best practices recommend implementing multiple layers of defense including regular software updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns. The fix in version 080 likely includes enhanced input validation routines that properly verify parameter values and prevent manipulation of the non_interactive flag to bypass security controls. System administrators should also conduct thorough testing of upgraded environments to ensure that all security controls function as intended.
Organizations with extensive deployments of Strands Agents Tools should perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized access that may have occurred prior to the upgrade. The remediation process should include verification that the updated version properly enforces human consent requirements and maintains proper isolation between interactive and non_interactive command execution modes. Additional monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual patterns in system command usage that might indicate continued exploitation attempts against unpatched systems.