MONAI: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
CVE-2026-100842 is a high-severity improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code vulnerability in MONAI from Project-MONAI, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected MONAI versions: 1.6.0 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of MONAI you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project-MONAI | MONAI | 1.6.0 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.3 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.0 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
MONAI through 1.6.0 contains an eval injection vulnerability in _get_fake_spatial_shape() in monai/bundle/scripts.py. The function validates shape expressions with a helper that walks the AST and only collects ast.Name nodes, rejecting any name other than 'p' or 'n', before passing the string to eval(). Expressions built solely from constants and attribute, subscript, or call nodes (for example "(1).__class__.__bases__[0].__subclasses__()" or "int.__class__.__init__.__globals__") contain no ast.Name nodes and therefore bypass the allowlist. Because the shape value originates from bundle metadata consumed by _get_real_input_data and verify_net_in_out (reachable through the bundle 'verify_net_in_out' CLI flow), an attacker who can influence a bundle's metadata can escape the eval sandbox via object introspection chains and achieve code execution in this non-default flow.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes code syntax before using the input in a dynamic evaluation call (e.g. eval).
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If possible, refactor your code so that it does not need to use eval() at all.
- For Python programs, it is frequently encouraged to use the ast.literal_eval() function instead of eval, since it is intentionally designed to avoid executing code. However, an adversary could still cause excessive memory or stack consumption via deeply nested structures, so the python documentation discourages use of ast.literal_eval() on untrusted data.
More Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities (CWE-95)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- github.com/Project-MONAI/MONAI/security/advisories/GHSA-h89g-r5pc-wxfmExploit, Mitigation
Third-party and government advisories
Other vulnerabilities in MONAI
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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