Hmbown CodeWhale up to 0.8.22 run_tests code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Hmbown CodeWhale up to 0.8.22. This impacts the function run_tests. Performing a manipulation results in code injection. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-45311. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Hmbown CodeWhale up to 0.8.22. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function run_tests. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

CodeWhale is a DeepSeek + MiMo coding agent in terminal. From 0.3.0 to 0.8.23, the run_tests tool executes cargo test in the workspace with ApprovalRequirement::Auto, meaning it runs without any user approval prompt. cargo test compiles and executes arbitrary code: test binaries, build.rs build scripts, and proc macros. While auto-approving test execution is a deliberate design choice, it creates an inconsistency in the security boundary. However, in a malicious repository, test code can execute arbitrary shell commands, exfiltrate credentials, or establish persistence with zero approval. The attack is amplified by AGENTS.md (auto-loaded into the system prompt), which can instruct the model to run tests proactively at session start. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.23.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-45311 since 05/11/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059 for this issue.

Upgrading to version 0.8.23 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• Hmbown

Name

• CodeWhale

Version

• 0.8.0
• 0.8.1
• 0.8.2
• 0.8.3
• 0.8.4
• 0.8.5
• 0.8.6
• 0.8.7
• 0.8.8
• 0.8.9
• 0.8.10
• 0.8.11
• 0.8.12
• 0.8.13
• 0.8.14
• 0.8.15
• 0.8.16
• 0.8.17
• 0.8.18
• 0.8.19
• 0.8.20
• 0.8.21
• 0.8.22

Website

• Product: https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/

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