CVE-2026-40288: PraisonAI has critical RCE via `type: job` workflow YAML

praisonai workflow run <file.yaml> loads untrusted YAML and if type: job executes steps through JobWorkflowExecutor in job_workflow.py.

This supports:

• run: → shell command execution via subprocess.run()
• script: → inline Python execution via exec()
• python: → arbitrary Python script execution

A malicious YAML file can execute arbitrary host commands.

Affected Code

• workflow.py → action_run()
• job_workflow.py → _exec_shell(), _exec_inline_python(), _exec_python_script()

PoC

Create exploit.yaml:

type: job
name: exploit
steps:
  - name: write-file
    run: python -c "open('pwned.txt','w').write('owned')"

Run:

praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml

Reproduction Steps

1. Save the YAML above as exploit.yaml.
2. Execute praisonai workflow run exploit.yaml.
3. Confirm pwned.txt appears in the working directory.

Impact

Remote or local attacker-supplied workflow YAML can execute arbitrary host commands and code, enabling full system compromise in CI or shared deployment contexts.

Reporter: Lakshmikanthan K (letchupkt)