CVE-2026-41497 in PraisonAI
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2026
PraisonAI is a multi-agent teams system. From version 4.5.15 to before version 4.5.69, the --mcp CLI argument is passed directly to shlex.split() and forwarded through the call chain to anyio.open_process() with no validation, allowlist check, or sanitization at any hop, allowing arbitrary OS command execution as the process user. This issue has been patched in version 4.5.69.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The PraisonAI multi-agent teams system contains a critical command injection vulnerability that affects versions between 4.5.15 and 4.5.68 inclusive. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation of the --mcp CLI argument which is processed through a chain of function calls without any sanitization or security controls. The flaw exists in the core argument handling mechanism where user-provided input flows directly from the command line interface through shlex.split() processing and subsequently to anyio.open_process() execution without any form of validation or allowlisting.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where untrusted input is directly incorporated into system execution calls. When a user provides the --mcp argument, the system does not perform any input sanitization or parameter validation before passing this data to the shell execution layer. The shlex.split() function, while designed to safely parse shell arguments, does not provide protection against malicious input that could contain shell metacharacters or command chaining operators. This creates an environment where an attacker can inject arbitrary shell commands that will execute with the privileges of the process user, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the process runs with elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can result in full system compromise depending on the execution context of the PraisonAI process. An attacker who can influence the --mcp argument can execute arbitrary operating system commands, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, establishing persistent access, or disrupting system operations. The vulnerability affects any environment where PraisonAI is executed with user-controllable input, particularly in multi-agent scenarios where different agents might provide command line arguments. This issue represents a critical security gap that violates fundamental security principles of input validation and privilege separation, as identified by CWE-78 which specifically addresses OS Command Injection vulnerabilities.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching to version 4.5.69 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures for all CLI arguments, particularly those that may be passed to system execution functions. The fix should include implementing allowlists for valid command parameters, proper shell escaping mechanisms, and ensuring that all user-provided input undergoes strict validation before any system interaction occurs. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection for command execution patterns to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1021.004 for Remote Services, as it enables adversaries to execute commands on compromised systems through legitimate system interfaces.
The root cause of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in secure coding practices and input validation controls within the application's architecture. The lack of security controls at multiple points in the call chain from CLI argument parsing to process execution represents a significant design flaw that should be addressed through comprehensive security reviews and implementation of defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations using PraisonAI should conduct thorough security assessments of their deployment environments and ensure that all third-party components receive regular security updates and vulnerability scanning to prevent similar issues from occurring in other software systems.