Flowise: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVE-2026-40933 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Flowise from FlowiseAI, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Flowise versions: < 3.1.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 12% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 3.81% of all scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of Flowise 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlowiseAI | Flowise | < 3.1.0 | Not stated |
| FlowiseAI | flowise-components | < 3.1.0 | 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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- 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:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Flowise is a drag & drop user interface to build a customized large language model flow. Prior to 3.1.0, due to unsafe serialization of stdio commands in the MCP adapter, an authenticated attacker can add an MCP stdio server with an arbitrary command, achieving command execution. The vulnerability lies in a bug in the input sanitization from the “Custom MCP” configuration in http://localhost:3000/canvas - where any user can add a new MCP, when doing so - adding a new MCP using stdio, the user can add any command, even though your code have input sanitization checks such as validateCommandInjection and validateArgsForLocalFileAccess, and a list of predefined specific safe commands - these commands, for example "npx" can be combined with code execution arguments ("-c touch /tmp/pwn") that enable direct code execution on the underlying OS. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.1.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
- For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)
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
Third-party and government advisories
- ox.security/blog/mcp-supply-chain-advisory-rce-vulnerabilities-across-the-ai-ecosystemPress/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- ox.security/blog/the-mother-of-all-ai-supply-chains-critical-systemic-vulnerability-at-the-core-of-the-mcpPress/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Flowise
- 8.5 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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