senaite.core: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
CVE-2026-54569 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code vulnerability in senaite.core from Senaite, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected senaite.core versions: >= 2.0.0, <= 2.6.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 68% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of senaite.core 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.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senaite | senaite.core | >= 2.0.0, <= 2.6.0 | 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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- 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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
SENAITE.CORE is the core framework for the SENAITE laboratory information management system. From 2.0.0 to 2.6.0, the SENAITE.CORE JSON API permits unauthenticated remote code execution through a two-request chain involving missing authorization and unsafe evaluation. The state-changing routes in src/bika/lims/jsonapi/update.py, including update, update_many, remove, doActionFor, doActionFor_many, and getusers, do not enforce the senaite.core: Access JSON API permission before resolving attacker-selected objects. In src/bika/lims/jsonapi/init.py, set_fields_from_request passes raw request values for RecordsField and RecordField instances to eval() before field mutator write-permission checks execute. An anonymous attacker can discover the bika_setup object identifier through @@uuid, send a value such as RejectionReasons to /@@API/update, and execute arbitrary Python in the Zope worker before a later mutation failure rolls back ZODB changes. The same unsafe evaluation pattern is present in src/senaite/core/browser/fields/record.py and src/senaite/core/browser/fields/records.py. Successful exploitation can expose or modify laboratory data, files, and accounts and can disrupt the service.
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: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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