{"id":"PYSEC-2026-3888","summary":"PraisonAI: [Path Traversal] agent tools escape the configured workspace via symlinks","details":"### Summary\nPraisonAI's `praisonai.code` tool wrappers (exported as `CODE_TOOLS` for agents) expose a `workspace` setting that the module itself treats as a path-traversal **security boundary** — `read_file`, `write_file`, `apply_diff`, and `search_replace` explicitly call `is_path_within_directory()` and return `\"… is outside the workspace\"` on violations. That boundary is enforced **unsoundly and inconsistently**:\n \n1. The containment helper uses `os.path.abspath()`, not `realpath()`/`Path.resolve()`. A symlink located **inside** the workspace whose target is **outside** has an `abspath()` that is still inside the workspace, so it passes the check while `open()` follows the link. This bypasses read, write, apply_diff, and search_replace (CWE-59).\n2. `list_files()` resolves `path` against the workspace but **never** calls the containment helper at all — `../` and absolute paths escape directly (CWE-22).\n3. `execute_command()` takes a `workspace` argument documented \"for security validation\" but performs **no** `cwd` containment check; `code_execute_command()` resolves a relative `cwd` against the workspace and also never validates it (and never even passes `workspace` to the low-level helper). A relative `cwd=\"../outside\"` runs commands from outside the workspace (CWE-22).\nAn attacker who can influence an agent that has these tools attached (untrusted prompt, indirect prompt injection, or a server-exposed agent) can read, overwrite, list, and execute from outside the configured workspace, bounded only by the process user's filesystem permissions.\n\n## Technical Detail\n \n### 1. Unsound containment helper (symlink bypass — CWE-59)\n \n```python\n# src/praisonai/praisonai/code/utils/file_utils.py — is_path_within_directory()\nabs_file = os.path.abspath(file_path)     # does NOT resolve symlinks\nabs_dir  = os.path.abspath(directory)\nif not abs_dir.endswith(os.sep): abs_dir += os.sep\nreturn abs_file.startswith(abs_dir) or abs_file == abs_dir.rstrip(os.sep)\n```\n \n`read_file`/`write_file`/`apply_diff`/`search_replace` call this with the configured workspace (e.g. `read_file.py`: `# Security check - ensure path is within workspace`). Because `abspath()` does not canonicalize symlinks, a link at `WORKSPACE/link_to_secret.txt` → `/outside/secret.txt` has `abspath` `WORKSPACE/link_to_secret.txt` (inside) and passes, while `open()` follows it to the real outside target.\n \n### 2. `list_files()` has no containment check (CWE-22)\n \n```python\n# src/praisonai/praisonai/code/tools/list_files.py\nif workspace and not os.path.isabs(path):\n    abs_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(workspace, path))   # ../ collapses out of workspace\nelse:\n    abs_path = os.path.abspath(path)                            # absolute path used as-is\n# ... os.path.isdir(abs_path) then listed. is_path_within_directory() is NEVER called.\n```\n \n### 3. `execute_command()` never validates `cwd` (CWE-22)\n \n```python\n# src/praisonai/praisonai/code/tools/execute_command.py — workspace param doc: \"for security validation\"\nif cwd:\n    if workspace and not os.path.isabs(cwd):\n        work_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(workspace, cwd))  # ../ escapes; no containment check\n    else:\n        work_dir = os.path.abspath(cwd)\n# subprocess.run(args, cwd=work_dir, ...)   # no is_path_within_directory() anywhere\n```\n \n```python\n# src/praisonai/praisonai/code/agent_tools.py — code_execute_command()\nif work_dir and _workspace_root and not os.path.isabs(work_dir):\n    work_dir = os.path.join(_workspace_root, work_dir)   # joins, never validates\nresult = _execute_command(command=command, cwd=work_dir, timeout=120)  # workspace not even passed\n```\n \nNote: `execute_command` rejects `shell=True` and runs `shlex.split(command)` via `subprocess.run` (no shell), so shell metacharacters (`&&`, `\u003e`, pipes) do not work — but any binary still runs with attacker-chosen argv **from the escaped cwd**, which is sufficient to read/write outside the workspace.\n \n### The workspace is an intended boundary (pre-empts \"by design\")\n \nThe module asserts this control itself: `read_file.py` \"Security check - ensure path is within workspace\"; `write_file.py` \"default workspace is cwd so relative paths cannot escape\"; `is_path_within_directory` docstring \"(prevents path traversal)\"; `execute_command` `workspace` param \"for security validation\". The bug is that the asserted control is unsound (abspath vs realpath) and not applied to `list_files`/`execute_command` cwd.\n\n## Proof of Concept\n \nSelf-contained, local temp fixtures only; no network, no untrusted commands. Real `praisonai.code` agent tools were called.\n \n```\nworkspace = /tmp/.../workspace      outside = /tmp/.../outside\n[1] baseline plain ../ read           -\u003e BLOCKED: \"Path '../outside/secret.txt' is outside the workspace\"\n[2] symlink read  (in-WS link)        -\u003e SUCCESS: returned \"SECRET_OUTSIDE_WORKSPACE\"\n[3] symlink write (in-WS link)        -\u003e SUCCESS: outside file now contains \"OVERWRITTEN_VIA_SYMLINK\"\n[4] code_list_files(\"../outside\")     -\u003e SUCCESS: \"Contents of ../outside:  📄 secret.txt\"\n[5] code_execute_command(cwd=\"../outside\",\"pwd\") -\u003e SUCCESS: stdout \"/tmp/.../outside\"\n[6] code_execute_command(cwd=\"../outside\", python3 -c open('planted.txt','w')...)\n                                      -\u003e SUCCESS: new file created OUTSIDE workspace, \"PWNED_OUTSIDE_WORKSPACE\"\n```\n \nSteps 2–6 each cross the configured workspace boundary; step 1 shows the plain-`../` guard that the symlink and unscoped vectors bypass.\n \n## Impact\n \n- **Confidentiality**: read files outside the workspace (in-workspace symlink; or list/enumerate outside dirs via `list_files`).\n- **Integrity**: overwrite outside files via symlink; create/modify files outside the workspace via `execute_command` running in an escaped cwd.\n- **Execution boundary**: run arbitrary available binaries (argv-controlled) from a directory outside the workspace.\nBounded by the process user's permissions. In a code-agent or server-exposed agent processing untrusted input, this exposes secrets / project-adjacent / host files and breaks the project-boundary integrity guarantee the workspace setting advertises.\n\n## Suggested Fix\n \n- Replace `is_path_within_directory()` with a `realpath()` / `Path.resolve()`-based containment check, and compare with `os.path.commonpath()` rather than `startswith`.\n- Apply that check consistently to every file path, directory path, backup path, diff/search-replace target, **and command working directory**, after full canonicalization (resolve the symlink's real target, not the link path).\n- `list_files()`: reject absolute paths and `../` escapes when `workspace` is set.\n- `execute_command()`: validate `cwd` containment when `workspace` is set; `code_execute_command()` should pass `_workspace_root` to the low-level helper or validate itself.\n- Regression tests: symlink read/write/diff/search-replace to outside targets; `list_files(\"../outside\", workspace=…)`; `execute_command(cwd=\"../outside\", workspace=…)`; absolute outside paths with a workspace set.","aliases":["CVE-2026-55540","GHSA-ch89-h4r2-c8f8"],"modified":"2026-09-10T12:15:10.970433733Z","published":"2026-09-10T09:44:54.553908Z","references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/security/advisories/GHSA-ch89-h4r2-c8f8"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/commit/2f9677abb2ea68eab864ee8b6a828fd0141612e1"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/releases/tag/v4.6.58"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://pypi.org/project/praisonai"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-ch89-h4r2-c8f8"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55540"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"praisonai","ecosystem":"PyPI","purl":"pkg:pypi/praisonai"},"ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"4.6.58"}]}],"versions":["0.0.1","0.0.10","0.0.11","0.0.12","0.0.13","0.0.14","0.0.15","0.0.16","0.0.17","0.0.18","0.0.19","0.0.2","0.0.20","0.0.21","0.0.22","0.0.23","0.0.24","0.0.25","0.0.26","0.0.27","0.0.28","0.0.29","0.0.3","0.0.30","0.0.31","0.0.32","0.0.33","0.0.34","0.0.35","0.0.36","0.0.37","0.0.38","0.0.39","0.0.4","0.0.40","0.0.41","0.0.42","0.0.43","0.0.44","0.0.45","0.0.46","0.0.47","0.0.48","0.0.49","0.0.5","0.0.50","0.0.52","0.0.53","0.0.54","0.0.55","0.0.56","0.0.57","0.0.58","0.0.59","0.0.59rc11","0.0.59rc2","0.0.59rc3","0.0.59rc5","0.0.59rc6","0.0.59rc7","0.0.59rc8","0.0.59rc9","0.0.6","0.0.61","0.0.64","0.0.65","0.0.66","0.0.67","0.0.68","0.0.69","0.0.7","0.0.70","0.0.71","0.0.72","0.0.73","0.0.74","0.0.8","0.0.9","0.1.0","0.1.1","0.1.10","0.1.2","0.1.3","0.1.4","0.1.5","0.1.6","0.1.7","0.1.8","0.1.9","1.0.0","1.0.1","1.0.10","1.0.11","1.0.2","1.0.3","1.0.4","1.0.5","1.0.6","1.0.8","1.0.9","2.0.0","2.0.1","2.0.10","2.0.11","2.0.12","2.0.13","2.0.14","2.0.15","2.0.16","2.0.17","2.0.18","2.0.19","2.0.2","2.0.20","2.0.22","2.0.23","2.0.24","2.0.25","2.0.26","2.0.27","2.0.28","2.0.29","2.0.3","2.0.30","2.0.31","2.0.32","2.0.33","2.0.34","2.0.35","2.0.36","2.0.37","2.0.38","2.0.39","2.0.40","2.0.41","2.0.42","2.0.43","2.0.44","2.0.45","2.0.46","2.0.47","2.0.48","2.0.49","2.0.5","2.0.50","2.0.51","2.0.53","2.0.54","2.0.55","2.0.56","2.0.57","2.0.58","2.0.59","2.0.6","2.0.60","2.0.61","2.0.62","2.0.63","2.0.64","2.0.65","2.0.66","2.0.67","2.0.68","2.0.69","2.0.7","2.0.70","2.0.71","2.0.72","2.0.73","2.0.74","2.0.75","2.0.76","2.0.77","2.0.78","2.0.79","2.0.8","2.0.80","2.0.81","2.0.9","2.1.0","2.1.1","2.1.4","2.1.5","2.1.6","2.2.1","2.2.10","2.2.11","2.2.12","2.2.13","2.2.14","2.2.15","2.2.16","2.2.17","2.2.18","2.2.19","2.2.2","2.2.20","2.2.21","2.2.22","2.2.24","2.2.25","2.2.26","2.2.27","2.2.28","2.2.29","2.2.3","2.2.30","2.2.31","2.2.32","2.2.33","2.2.34","2.2.35","2.2.36","2.2.37","2.2.38","2.2.39","2.2.4","2.2.40","2.2.41","2.2.42","2.2.43","2.2.44","2.2.45","2.2.46","2.2.47","2.2.48","2.2.49","2.2.5","2.2.50","2.2.51","2.2.52","2.2.53","2.2.54","2.2.55","2.2.56","2.2.57","2.2.58","2.2.59","2.2.6","2.2.60","2.2.61","2.2.62","2.2.63","2.2.64","2.2.65","2.2.66","2.2.67","2.2.68","2.2.69","2.2.7","2.2.70","2.2.71","2.2.72","2.2.73","2.2.74","2.2.75","2.2.76","2.2.77","2.2.78","2.2.79","2.2.8","2.2.80","2.2.81","2.2.82","2.2.83","2.2.84","2.2.86","2.2.87","2.2.88","2.2.89","2.2.9","2.2.90","2.2.91","2.2.93","2.2.95","2.2.96","2.2.97","2.2.98","2.2.99","2.3.0","2.3.1","2.3.10","2.3.11","2.3.12","2.3.13","2.3.14","2.3.15","2.3.16","2.3.18","2.3.19","2.3.2","2.3.20","2.3.21","2.3.22","2.3.23","2.3.24","2.3.25","2.3.26","2.3.27","2.3.28","2.3.29","2.3.3","2.3.30","2.3.31","2.3.32","2.3.33","2.3.34","2.3.35","2.3.36","2.3.37","2.3.38","2.3.39","2.3.4","2.3.40","2.3.41","2.3.42","2.3.43","2.3.44","2.3.45","2.3.46","2.3.47","2.3.48","2.3.49","2.3.5","2.3.50","2.3.51","2.3.52","2.3.53","2.3.54","2.3.55","2.3.56","2.3.57","2.3.58","2.3.59","2.3.6","2.3.60","2.3.61","2.3.62","2.3.63","2.3.64","2.3.65","2.3.66","2.3.67","2.3.68","2.3.69","2.3.7","2.3.70","2.3.71","2.3.72","2.3.73","2.3.74","2.3.75","2.3.76","2.3.77","2.3.78","2.3.79","2.3.8","2.3.80","2.3.81","2.3.82","2.3.83","2.3.84","2.3.85","2.3.86","2.3.87","2.3.9","2.4.0","2.4.1","2.4.2","2.4.3","2.4.4","2.5.0","2.5.1","2.5.2","2.5.3","2.5.4","2.5.5","2.5.6","2.5.7","2.6.0","2.6.1","2.6.2","2.6.3","2.6.4","2.6.5","2.6.6","2.6.7","2.6.8","2.7.0","2.8.3","2.8.4","2.8.5","2.8.6","2.8.7","2.8.8","2.8.9","2.9.0","2.9.1","2.9.2","3.0.0","3.0.1","3.0.2","3.0.3","3.0.4","3.0.5","3.0.6","3.0.7","3.0.8","3.0.9","3.1.0","3.1.1","3.1.2","3.1.3","3.1.4","3.1.5","3.1.6","3.1.7","3.1.8","3.1.9","3.10.0","3.10.1","3.10.10","3.10.11","3.10.12","3.10.13","3.10.14","3.10.15","3.10.16","3.10.17","3.10.18","3.10.19","3.10.2","3.10.20","3.10.21","3.10.22","3.10.23","3.10.24","3.10.25","3.10.26","3.10.27","3.10.3","3.10.4","3.10.5","3.10.6","3.10.7","3.10.8","3.10.9","3.11.0","3.11.1","3.11.10","3.11.11","3.11.12","3.11.13","3.11.14","3.11.2","3.11.3","3.11.4","3.11.8","3.11.9",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