CVE-2026-51870 in DeepTutor
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
DeepTutor v1.4.0 is vulnerable to command execution in /tutorbot/agent/tools/shell.py:ExecTool.execute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified in DeepTutor version 1.4.0 represents a critical security flaw located within the ExecTool component, specifically at the execute method found in the shell.py module under the tutorbot agent tools directory. This issue stems from an improper neutralization of special elements used in operating system commands, commonly categorized as OS Command Injection or CWE-78. The root cause lies in the application's failure to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to a system-level command interpreter. When the ExecTool.execute function processes data provided by users or external agents, it constructs shell commands dynamically without implementing sufficient validation mechanisms such as strict allow-listing of permitted characters or robust escaping procedures. This architectural oversight allows an attacker to inject arbitrary operating system commands that are then executed with the privileges associated with the application process running DeepTutor.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution if the affected service is exposed over a network and accessible by unauthenticated users or those with lower privilege levels who can interact with the tutorbot agent interface. The attacker can manipulate the input parameters to include shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or ampersands, thereby chaining additional commands beyond the intended functionality of the tool. For instance, an input designed to list directory contents could be altered to download and execute a malicious payload from a remote server. This capability effectively bypasses any application-level access controls because the underlying operating system executes the injected command directly, often granting the attacker full control over the host environment depending on the execution context of the DeepTutor service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, potentially leading to complete compromise of the hosting infrastructure. An adversary leveraging this flaw could exfiltrate sensitive data stored within the application's directory structure, modify configuration files to establish persistence mechanisms, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks against other network resources. In educational environments where DeepTutor might be deployed, such a breach could result in unauthorized access to student records, intellectual property theft, and disruption of academic services. The lack of input validation means that even seemingly benign inputs can trigger destructive actions if crafted maliciously, making this a high-risk vulnerability that requires immediate attention from system administrators and developers responsible for maintaining the integrity of the DeepTutor deployment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on eliminating the root cause by redesigning how commands are executed within the ExecTool module. The most effective remediation is to avoid invoking shell interpreters entirely when possible, instead using language-specific libraries that execute programs directly without parsing command lines, such as Python's subprocess.run with a list argument rather than passing strings through a shell. If shell execution is strictly necessary for specific legacy functionalities, developers must implement rigorous input validation based on strict allow-lists of permitted characters and values. Additionally, employing parameterized commands where variables are passed separately from the executable path can prevent injection attempts. It is also advisable to run the DeepTutor service with the principle of least privilege, ensuring that even if an attack succeeds, the compromised process has minimal permissions to limit potential damage. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools should be integrated into the development lifecycle to detect such flaws early before deployment.
This vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically sub-techniques involving shell commands like sh or bash. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can achieve initial access and privilege escalation within the target environment. Organizations should prioritize patching to version 1.4.1 or later if available, as vendors typically release updates addressing such critical injection vulnerabilities. Until patches are applied, network-level controls such as web application firewalls may offer some protection by filtering out known malicious patterns in HTTP requests targeting the /tutorbot/agent/tools/shell.py endpoint, although this is not a substitute for fixing the underlying code defect. Continuous monitoring of system logs for unusual command execution patterns can also aid in detecting active exploitation attempts and responding promptly to security incidents.