CVE-2026-75857 in CodeWhale
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
CodeWhale versions >= 0.8.41 and < 0.8.64 contain a vulnerability in the exec_shell_interact (alias exec_interact) tool, whose approval_requirement returns ApprovalRequirement::Auto. This overrides the default Required approval for code-executing tools, so LLM-controlled stdin is written into an already-approved long-running interactive shell (e.g., a python3 -i REPL, mysql, ssh, or sudo -i session) without any approval prompt. An attacker who can inject instructions via untrusted content the agent ingests (a fetched page, MCP result, or repo file) can cause commands to run at the privilege level of that approved process. Fixed in 0.8.64.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
The vulnerability identified in CodeWhale versions ranging from 0.8.41 up to but not including 0.8.64 represents a critical failure in access control and input validation mechanisms within the agent's execution environment. The core of this issue lies in the configuration of the exec_shell_interact tool, also known as exec_interact. In these affected versions, the approval_requirement attribute for this specific tool is hardcoded to return ApprovalRequirement::Auto. This setting fundamentally alters the security posture by overriding the system-wide default policy which mandates Required approval for any code-executing tools. By automatically approving interactions with shell sessions that are already established and approved, the software creates a significant bypass in the intended human-in-the-loop safety controls designed to prevent unauthorized command execution.
From a technical perspective, this flaw allows an attacker who has gained the ability to inject instructions through untrusted content ingested by the agent to execute arbitrary commands within an active interactive shell session. The vulnerability exploits the state of long-running processes such as Python REPLs (python3 -i), database clients like MySQL, remote access sessions via SSH, or elevated privilege shells obtained through sudo -i. Because these sessions are already approved and running with specific privileges, the automatic approval mechanism permits LLM-controlled standard input to be written directly into them without triggering any additional authorization prompts. This effectively allows an attacker to hijack the execution context of a privileged process by feeding it malicious commands disguised as part of the agent's normal operational flow or derived from untrusted sources such as fetched web pages, Model Context Protocol results, or repository files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly in environments where CodeWhale agents are deployed with elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems. An attacker can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges by injecting commands into a sudo -i session, thereby gaining root-level access without detection. Similarly, injection into database clients could lead to unauthorized data exfiltration, modification of critical records, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The ability to execute arbitrary code in an already-approved context means that traditional security monitoring tools relying on approval logs may fail to flag these activities as anomalous, since they appear to be part of a legitimate, pre-authorized session. This undermines the principle of least privilege and compromises the integrity of automated development workflows where agents interact with live systems.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, as the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize inputs intended for interactive shells before execution. It also relates to CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, given that the automatic approval mechanism grants excessive privileges to untrusted input streams. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this behavior is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically involving interactive shells like sh or bash, where an adversary uses a legitimate tool to execute malicious commands. The exploitation vector often involves prompt injection attacks against the large language model controlling the agent, which then generates shell commands that are silently executed due to the flawed approval logic.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately upgrade CodeWhale to version 0.8.64 or later where the issue has been resolved. In environments where upgrading is not instantly feasible, it is crucial to restrict the permissions of any long-running interactive shell sessions used by agents, ensuring they operate with minimal necessary privileges. Additionally, implementing strict input sanitization and output filtering for all untrusted content ingested by the agent can reduce the surface area for prompt injection attacks. Security teams should also monitor for unusual patterns in command execution within approved shells, as these may indicate exploitation attempts even after mitigation measures are applied. Regular audits of approval configurations for code-executing tools are recommended to ensure they align with organizational security policies and do not inadvertently bypass human oversight mechanisms.