Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from GitHub Advisory · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
5DescriptionGitHub Advisory
Emissary is a P2P based data-driven workflow engine. Prior to 8.39.0, the Executrix utility class constructed shell commands by concatenating configuration-derived values - including the PLACE_NAME parameter - with insufficient sanitization. Only spaces were replaced with underscores, allowing shell metacharacters (;, |, $, `, (, ), etc.) to pass through into /bin/sh -c command execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.39.0.
AnalysisAI
Command injection in NSA Emissary P2P workflow engine (versions prior to 8.39.0) allows authenticated remote administrators to execute arbitrary shell commands through unsanitized PLACE_NAME parameter values. The Executrix utility class passes configuration-derived values directly to /bin/sh -c with only space-to-underscore sanitization, enabling shell metacharacters (semicolons, pipes, backticks) to trigger command execution. CVSS 7.2 (High) reflects network accessibility with low attack complexity, though exploitation requires high-privilege administrator credentials (PR:H). No public exploit code identified at time of analysis, with EPSS data unavailable for this recent CVE. Vendor-released patch available in version 8.39.0 per GitHub security advisory.
Technical ContextAI
Emissary is the National Security Agency's open-source P2P data-driven workflow engine. The vulnerability resides in the Executrix utility class, which constructs shell commands through string concatenation using configuration parameters including PLACE_NAME. The affected component implements CWE-78 (OS Command Injection) by passing inadequately sanitized input to /bin/sh -c execution context. Only whitespace characters undergo transformation (spaces replaced with underscores), allowing dangerous shell metacharacters like semicolons (command chaining), pipes (command redirection), dollar signs (variable expansion), backticks (command substitution), and parentheses (subshell execution) to remain intact. The CPE identifier cpe:2.3:a:nationalsecurityagency:emissary:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* confirms this affects the NSA's Emissary product line. Configuration-derived execution paths create persistent injection vectors since PLACE_NAME values typically originate from system configuration files that administrators control.
RemediationAI
Upgrade NSA Emissary to version 8.39.0 or later, which implements proper input sanitization for the PLACE_NAME parameter and other configuration-derived values passed to shell execution contexts. The vendor-released patch addresses the root cause by replacing dangerous string concatenation with parameterized command construction or comprehensive sanitization that neutralizes shell metacharacters beyond just spaces. Organizations should obtain the patched version from the official NSA GitHub repository and follow standard change management procedures for workflow engine updates. Review existing PLACE_NAME configuration values for any evidence of malicious metacharacter injection that may indicate prior exploitation attempts. If immediate patching is not feasible, implement compensating controls including strict validation of all Emissary configuration parameters, enhanced monitoring of administrative account activity within Emissary systems, and restriction of administrative access to trusted networks only. Consult the official security advisory at https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/emissary/security/advisories/GHSA-6c37-7w4p-jg9v for additional vendor-specific remediation guidance and implementation notes.
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Same weakness CWE-78 – OS Command Injection
View allSame technique Command Injection
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-19730
GHSA-6c37-7w4p-jg9v