GHSA-7H8W-HJ9J-8RJW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-25 21:54 – Updated: 2026-03-27 21:37Summary
A Command Injection vulnerability exists in the get_git_diff() method at openhands/runtime/utils/git_handler.py:134. The path parameter from the /api/conversations/{conversation_id}/git/diff API endpoint is passed unsanitized to a shell command, allowing authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands in the agent sandbox. The user is already allowed to instruct the agent to execute commands, but this bypasses the normal channels.
Details
Vulnerable Code Path
The vulnerability flows through these files:
- API Endpoint (
openhands/server/routes/files.py:267-277)
@app.get('/git/diff')
async def git_diff(
path: str, # <-- User input from HTTP request
...
):
...
diff = await call_sync_from_async(runtime.get_git_diff, path, cwd) # No sanitization
- Runtime (
openhands/runtime/base.py:1231-1233)
def get_git_diff(self, file_path: str, cwd: str) -> dict[str, str]:
self.git_handler.set_cwd(cwd)
return self.git_handler.get_git_diff(file_path) # Passed directly
- Vulnerable Method (
openhands/runtime/utils/git_handler.py:10-12, 134)
# Command template with placeholder
GIT_DIFF_CMD = 'python3 /openhands/code/openhands/runtime/utils/git_diff.py "{file_path}"'
# Line 134 - VULNERABLE: User input directly interpolated
result = self.execute(self.git_diff_cmd.format(file_path=file_path), self.cwd)
- Shell Execution (
openhands/runtime/utils/git_diff.py:25-27)
def run(cmd: str, cwd: str) -> str:
result = subprocess.run(
args=cmd,
shell=True, # <-- Enables shell metacharacter interpretation
stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
cwd=cwd
)
Root Cause
The file_path parameter is directly interpolated into a shell command string using Python's .format() method without any sanitization. When this command is executed with shell=True, shell metacharacters like ", ;, and # are interpreted, allowing command injection.
Example:
- Input: test"; id #
- Constructed command: python3 /script.py "test"; id #"
- Shell interprets as two commands: python3 /script.py "test" AND id
Impact
Who is Affected
- All OpenHands deployments exposing the
/api/conversations/{id}/git/diffendpoint - Any authenticated user can exploit this vulnerability,
Attack Capabilities
An attacker can:
1. Execute arbitrary commands on the runtime container as root
2. Read sensitive files including .env, API keys, source code
3. Write arbitrary files to inject malicious code
4. Establish reverse shells for persistent access
5. Potentially escape the container if Docker is misconfigured
Mitigation
Users should update to the latest version of OpenHands that includes the changes from PR #13051. The fix replaces direct shell string formatting with proper argument array handling or rigorous path sanitization to prevent command chaining.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "openhands"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.5.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-33718"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-78"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-25T21:54:55Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-27T01:16:19Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "## Summary\n\nA Command Injection vulnerability exists in the `get_git_diff()` method at `openhands/runtime/utils/git_handler.py:134`. The `path` parameter from the `/api/conversations/{conversation_id}/git/diff` API endpoint is passed unsanitized to a shell command, allowing authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands in the agent sandbox. The user is already allowed to instruct the agent to execute commands, but this bypasses the normal channels.\n\n---\n\n## Details\n\n### Vulnerable Code Path\n\nThe vulnerability flows through these files:\n\n1. **API Endpoint** (`openhands/server/routes/files.py:267-277`)\n```python\n@app.get(\u0027/git/diff\u0027)\nasync def git_diff(\n path: str, # \u003c-- User input from HTTP request\n ...\n):\n ...\n diff = await call_sync_from_async(runtime.get_git_diff, path, cwd) # No sanitization\n```\n\n2. **Runtime** (`openhands/runtime/base.py:1231-1233`)\n```python\ndef get_git_diff(self, file_path: str, cwd: str) -\u003e dict[str, str]:\n self.git_handler.set_cwd(cwd)\n return self.git_handler.get_git_diff(file_path) # Passed directly\n```\n\n3. **Vulnerable Method** (`openhands/runtime/utils/git_handler.py:10-12, 134`)\n```python\n# Command template with placeholder\nGIT_DIFF_CMD = \u0027python3 /openhands/code/openhands/runtime/utils/git_diff.py \"{file_path}\"\u0027\n\n# Line 134 - VULNERABLE: User input directly interpolated\nresult = self.execute(self.git_diff_cmd.format(file_path=file_path), self.cwd)\n```\n\n4. **Shell Execution** (`openhands/runtime/utils/git_diff.py:25-27`)\n```python\ndef run(cmd: str, cwd: str) -\u003e str:\n result = subprocess.run(\n args=cmd,\n shell=True, # \u003c-- Enables shell metacharacter interpretation\n stdout=subprocess.PIPE,\n stderr=subprocess.PIPE,\n cwd=cwd\n )\n```\n\n### Root Cause\n\nThe `file_path` parameter is directly interpolated into a shell command string using Python\u0027s `.format()` method without any sanitization. When this command is executed with `shell=True`, shell metacharacters like `\"`, `;`, and `#` are interpreted, allowing command injection.\n\n**Example:**\n- Input: `test\"; id #`\n- Constructed command: `python3 /script.py \"test\"; id #\"`\n- Shell interprets as two commands: `python3 /script.py \"test\"` AND `id`\n\n---\n\n## Impact\n\n### Who is Affected\n- All OpenHands deployments exposing the `/api/conversations/{id}/git/diff` endpoint\n- Any authenticated user can exploit this vulnerability, \n\n### Attack Capabilities\nAn attacker can:\n1. **Execute arbitrary commands** on the runtime container as root\n2. **Read sensitive files** including `.env`, API keys, source code\n3. **Write arbitrary files** to inject malicious code\n4. **Establish reverse shells** for persistent access\n5. **Potentially escape the container** if Docker is misconfigured\n\n## Mitigation \n\nUsers should update to the latest version of OpenHands that includes the changes from PR #13051. The fix replaces direct shell string formatting with proper argument array handling or rigorous path sanitization to prevent command chaining.",
"id": "GHSA-7h8w-hj9j-8rjw",
"modified": "2026-03-27T21:37:14Z",
"published": "2026-03-25T21:54:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands/security/advisories/GHSA-7h8w-hj9j-8rjw"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33718"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands/pull/13051"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://docs.python.org/3/library/shlex.html#shlex.quote"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#security-considerations"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/Command_Injection"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "OpenHands is Vulnerable to Command Injection through its Git Diff Handler"
}
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.