{"id":"PYSEC-2026-3889","summary":"PraisonAI: Authentication fail-open in Recipe server allows unauthenticated access when API key or JWT auth is configured without a secret","details":"### Summary\n\nThe PraisonAI Recipe HTTP server silently allows unauthenticated requests when `auth` is configured as `api-key` or `jwt` but the corresponding secret is missing.\n\nThis creates an authentication fail-open condition. An operator can start the Recipe server with authentication enabled, including on a non-localhost interface, but the server still accepts unauthenticated requests if no API key or JWT secret is provided.\n\nThe issue is especially risky because the CLI safety check for non-localhost binding only verifies that `auth != \"none\"`. It does not verify that an actual API key or JWT secret exists.\n\n### Details\n\nThe Recipe server documents the following authentication modes:\n\n- `none`\n- `api-key`\n- `jwt`\n\nRelevant source locations:\n\n- `src/praisonai/praisonai/recipe/serve.py`\n- `src/praisonai/praisonai/cli/features/recipe.py`\n\nIn `create_auth_middleware()`, the API key middleware resolves the expected key as:\n\n```python\nexpected_key = api_key or os.environ.get(\"PRAISONAI_API_KEY\")\n\nif not expected_key:\n    # No key configured, allow request\n    return await call_next(request)\n```\n\nThis means `auth: api-key` does not enforce authentication if `api_key` / `PRAISONAI_API_KEY` is missing.\n\nThe JWT middleware has the same fail-open behavior:\n\n```python\nsecret = jwt_secret or os.environ.get(\"PRAISONAI_JWT_SECRET\")\nif not secret:\n    return await call_next(request)\n```\n\nThe auth middleware is still attached when `auth` is configured:\n\n```python\nauth_type = config.get(\"auth\")\nif auth_type and auth_type != \"none\":\n    auth_middleware = create_auth_middleware(\n        auth_type,\n        api_key=config.get(\"api_key\"),\n        jwt_secret=config.get(\"jwt_secret\"),\n    )\n    if auth_middleware:\n        middleware.append(Middleware(auth_middleware))\n```\n\nThe CLI path makes this externally reachable in a misconfigured deployment. In `cmd_serve`, the non-localhost safety check only verifies that auth is not `\"none\"`:\n\n```python\nif host != \"127.0.0.1\" and host != \"localhost\" and auth == \"none\":\n    self._print_error(\"Auth required for non-localhost binding. Use --auth api-key or --auth jwt\")\n    return self.EXIT_POLICY_DENIED\n```\n\nTherefore, this command passes the safety check:\n\n```bash\npraisonai recipe serve --host 0.0.0.0 --auth api-key\n```\n\nHowever, if no `--api-key` or `PRAISONAI_API_KEY` is configured, requests are still accepted without authentication.\n\nAffected endpoints include:\n\n- `POST /v1/recipes/run`\n- `POST /v1/recipes/stream`\n- `POST /v1/recipes/validate`\n- optional `POST /admin/reload` when `enable_admin` is true\n\n### PoC\n\nThe following local PoC verifies that `api-key` and `jwt` authentication fail open when the corresponding secret is missing.\n\nRun from the repository root with test dependencies installed:\n\n```bash\npython3 poc_recipe_auth_fail_open.py\n```\n\n`poc_recipe_auth_fail_open.py`:\n\n```python\nimport os\nimport sys\nfrom pathlib import Path\n\nfrom starlette.testclient import TestClient\n\nROOT = Path.cwd()\nsys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / \"src\" / \"praisonai\"))\nsys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / \"src\" / \"praisonai-agents\"))\n\n# Ensure no secrets are present in the environment.\nos.environ.pop(\"PRAISONAI_API_KEY\", None)\nos.environ.pop(\"PRAISONAI_JWT_SECRET\", None)\n\nfrom praisonai.recipe.serve import create_app\n\n# api-key auth selected, but no key configured.\napp_open = create_app({\"auth\": \"api-key\", \"enable_admin\": True})\nclient_open = TestClient(app_open)\n\nprint(\"api-key auth with missing key:\")\nprint(\"GET /openapi.json:\", client_open.get(\"/openapi.json\").status_code)\nprint(\"POST /admin/reload:\", client_open.post(\"/admin/reload\").status_code)\n\n# api-key auth selected with an actual key configured.\napp_closed = create_app({\n    \"auth\": \"api-key\",\n    \"api_key\": \"expected\",\n    \"enable_admin\": True,\n})\nclient_closed = TestClient(app_closed)\n\nprint(\"\\napi-key auth with configured key:\")\nprint(\"missing key:\", client_closed.post(\"/admin/reload\").status_code)\nprint(\"wrong key:\", client_closed.post(\n    \"/admin/reload\",\n    headers={\"X-API-Key\": \"wrong\"},\n).status_code)\nprint(\"correct key:\", client_closed.post(\n    \"/admin/reload\",\n    headers={\"X-API-Key\": \"expected\"},\n).status_code)\n\n# jwt auth selected, but no JWT secret configured.\napp_jwt_open = create_app({\"auth\": \"jwt\"})\nclient_jwt_open = TestClient(app_jwt_open)\n\nprint(\"\\njwt auth with missing secret:\")\nprint(\"GET /openapi.json:\", client_jwt_open.get(\"/openapi.json\").status_code)\n```\n\nObserved output:\n\n```text\napi-key auth with missing key:\nGET /openapi.json: 200\nPOST /admin/reload: 200\n\napi-key auth with configured key:\nmissing key: 401\nwrong key: 401\ncorrect key: 200\n\njwt auth with missing secret:\nGET /openapi.json: 200\n```\n\nThe important result is that `auth=api-key` without a configured key allows requests to protected endpoints, while the same endpoint correctly returns `401` when a key is configured and missing/wrong.\n\n### Impact\n\nIn an exposed deployment, an unauthenticated attacker can access Recipe server endpoints even though the operator selected `api-key` or `jwt` authentication.\n\nThis gives unauthenticated access to recipe execution endpoints such as:\n\n- `POST /v1/recipes/run`\n- `POST /v1/recipes/stream`\n\nIf admin endpoints are enabled, the attacker can also access:\n\n- `POST /admin/reload`\n\nThe impact depends on the available recipes and deployment configuration. In the worst case, unauthenticated users can trigger recipe workflows or administrative reload operations on an externally bound Recipe server.","aliases":["CVE-2026-55533","GHSA-gfq8-hmph-9gjv"],"modified":"2026-09-10T12:15:09.129881552Z","published":"2026-09-10T09:44:55.254450Z","references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/MervinPraison/PraisonAI/security/advisories/GHSA-gfq8-hmph-9gjv"},{"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-gfq8-hmph-9gjv"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55533"}],"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","3.12.0","3.12.1","3.12.2","3.12.3","3.2.0","3.2.1","3.3.0","3.3.1","3.4.0","3.4.1","3.5.0","3.5.1","3.5.2","3.5.3","3.5.4","3.5.5","3.5.6","3.5.7","3.5.8","3.5.9","3.6.0","3.6.1","3.6.2","3.7.0","3.7.1","3.7.2","3.7.3","3.7.4","3.7.5","3.7.6","3.7.7","3.7.8","3.7.9","3.8.0","3.8.1","3.8.10","3.8.11","3.8.12","3.8.13","3.8.14","3.8.16","3.8.17","3.8.18","3.8.19","3.8.2","3.8.20","3.8.21","3.8.22","3.8.3","3.8.4","3.8.5","3.8.6","3.8.7","3.8.8","3.8.9","3.9.0","3.9.1","3.9.10","3.9.11","3.9.12","3.9.13","3.9.14","3.9.15","3.9.16","3.9.17","3.9.18","3.9.19","3.9.2","3.9.20","3.9.21","3.9.22","3.9.23","3.9.24","3.9.25","3.9.26","3.9.27","3.9.28","3.9.29","3.9.3","3.9.30","3.9.31","3.9.32","3.9.33","3.9.34","3.9.35","3.9.4","3.9.5","3.9.6","3.9.7","3.9.8","3.9.9","4.0.0","4.1.0","4.2.0","4.2.1","4.2.2","4.2.3","4.2.4","4.3.0","4.3.1","4.4.0","4.4.10","4.4.11","4.4.12","4.4.2","4.4.3","4.4.4","4.4.5","4.4.6","4.4.7","4.4.8","4.4.9","4.5.0","4.5.1","4.5.10","4.5.100","4.5.101","4.5.102","4.5.103","4.5.104","4.5.105","4.5.106","4.5.107","4.5.108","4.5.109","4.5.11","4.5.110","4.5.111","4.5.112","4.5.113","4.5.114","4.5.115","4.5.117","4.5.118","4.5.119","4.5.12","4.5.120","4.5.121","4.5.122","4.5.123","4.5.124","4.5.125","4.5.126","4.5.127","4.5.128","4.5.129","4.5.13","4.5.130","4.5.131","4.5.132","4.5.133","4.5.134","4.5.135","4.5.136","4.5.137","4.5.139","4.5.14","4.5.140","4.5.143","4.5.144","4.5.145","4.5.149","4.5.15","4.5.16","4.5.18","4.5.19","4.5.2","4.5.20","4.5.21","4.5.22","4.5.23","4.5.24","4.5.25","4.5.26","4.5.27","4.5.28","4.5.29","4.5.3","4.5.30","4.5.31","4.5.32","4.5.33","4.5.34","4.5.35","4.5.36","4.5.37","4.5.38","4.5.39","4.5.40","4.5.41","4.5.42","4.5.43","4.5.44","4.5.45","4.5.46","4.5.48","4.5.49","4.5.5","4.5.51","4.5.52","4.5.54","4.5.55","4.5.56","4.5.57","4.5.58","4.5.59","4.5.6","4.5.60","4.5.62","4.5.63","4.5.64","4.5.65","4.5.67","4.5.68","4.5.69","4.5.7","4.5.70","4.5.71","4.5.72","4.5.73","4.5.74","4.5.76","4.5.77","4.5.78","4.5.79","4.5.8","4.5.80","4.5.81","4.5.82","4.5.83","4.5.85","4.5.87","4.5.88","4.5.89","4.5.9","4.5.90","4.5.93","4.5.94","4.5.95","4.5.96","4.5.97","4.5.98","4.6.10","4.6.11","4.6.12","4.6.13","4.6.14","4.6.15","4.6.16","4.6.18","4.6.19","4.6.20","4.6.21","4.6.22","4.6.23","4.6.24","4.6.25","4.6.26","4.6.27","4.6.28","4.6.29","4.6.30","4.6.31","4.6.32","4.6.33","4.6.34","4.6.35","4.6.36","4.6.37","4.6.38","4.6.39","4.6.40","4.6.41","4.6.42","4.6.43","4.6.44","4.6.45","4.6.46","4.6.47","4.6.48","4.6.50","4.6.51","4.6.52","4.6.53","4.6.54","4.6.55","4.6.56","4.6.57","4.6.9"],"database_specific":{"source":"https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/blob/main/vulns/praisonai/PYSEC-2026-3889.yaml"}}],"schema_version":"1.9.0","severity":[{"type":"CVSS_V3","score":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N"}]}