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Openharness EUVDEUVD-2026-19746

| CVE-2026-22682 HIGH
Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863)
2026-04-07 VulnCheck GHSA-43rx-99w7-v5fh
8.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Authenticate as local agent user
  2. Exploit
    Invoke read_file tool with path parameter
  3. Execution
    Path bypass permission checker validation
  4. Impact
    Access sensitive files outside repository scope

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization logic validation
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Attacker must have low-privilege local access to execute OpenHarness agent tools (read_file, write_file, edit_file, notebook_edit). Affects OpenHarness versions prior to commit 166fcfe. Path parameter bypass in PermissionChecker allows arbitrary file access outside intended repository scope.

Impact

Real-world risk is moderate to high for organizations deploying OpenHarness in multi-user or automated agent environments. The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.4 reflects local attack vector with low complexity and low privileges required, resulting in high confidentiality and integrity impact with no availability impact. However, the practical risk depends heavily on deployment context: the attacker must already possess the ability to 'influence agent tool execution,' which suggests either authenticated access to the agent framework or exploitation of a separate input validation weakness. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and EPSS probability data is unavailable for forward-dated CVEs, limiting automated exploitation risk assessment. The authentication requirement (PR:L) and local attack vector (AV:L) reduce exposure compared to unauthenticated remote vulnerabilities, but the potential for credential theft and SSH key exfiltration makes this a serious concern for environments where OpenHarness agents process untrusted inputs or operate in shared hosting scenarios. SSVC technical impact would be rated 'total' due to arbitrary file system access, though exploitation requires existing local access positioning.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker with low-privilege authenticated access to an OpenHarness deployment influences agent tool execution through crafted inputs or workflow manipulation. By invoking read_file with a path parameter pointing to /home/user/.ssh/id_rsa while the PermissionChecker receives no path context, the attacker bypasses repository scope restrictions that would normally deny access to SSH private keys. The agent reads and returns the SSH key material, which the attacker exfiltrates. In full_auto mode, the attacker subsequently uses write_file to create a backdoor account by overwriting /etc/passwd or plants malicious code in system startup scripts, establishing persistent access beyond the OpenHarness framework itself.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Apr 07, 2026

Improper access control in OpenHarness (prior to commit 166fcfe) allows local authenticated attackers with influence over agent tool execution to read arbitrary local files and write/overwrite files outside intended repository boundaries. The vulnerability stems from inconsistent parameter handling where the path parameter is not passed to PermissionChecker in four file operation tools (read_file, write_file, edit_file, notebook_edit), enabling bypass of deny rules to access sensitive credentials, SSH keys, and configuration files. Upstream fix available (PR/commit); released patched version not independently confirmed. EPSS data not available; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Organizations should immediately upgrade to OpenHarness commit 166fcfefb7614dbac51bd061f56542725b0298e9 or later, which addresses the parameter handling inconsistency by ensuring the path parameter is correctly passed to PermissionChecker across all four affected file tools. The patch is available through GitHub pull request #32 (https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenHarness/pull/32) with the specific fix commit at https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenHarness/commit/166fcfefb7614dbac51bd061f56542725b0298e9. Until patching is complete, organizations should implement compensating controls including restricting which users can influence agent tool execution, implementing additional filesystem-level access controls through OS permissions or containerization boundaries, disabling full_auto mode if write capabilities are not essential, and monitoring file access patterns for suspicious out-of-scope operations. Detailed vulnerability analysis is available in the VulnCheck advisory at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openharness-improper-access-control-via-file-tools.

Affected VersionsENISA

OpenHarness 0 <166fcfefb7614dbac51bd061f56542725b0298e9

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

OpenHarness is an AI agent development framework (HKUDS project) that provides file manipulation tools with permission enforcement mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the built-in file tools layer where a PermissionChecker component is intended to validate file access against repository scope restrictions. The root cause (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) manifests as inconsistent authorization enforcement - while permission checks exist, the critical 'path' parameter required for proper access control validation is omitted when invoking PermissionChecker in four distinct file operation functions. This architectural flaw creates a parameter binding mismatch where the authorization decision is made without knowledge of the actual target path, rendering deny rules ineffective. In full_auto mode, this extends to file creation and overwriting capabilities, amplifying the authorization bypass from read-only to read-write scope violations across the host filesystem.

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Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY 8.4 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch released
Apr 07, 2026 - 18:00 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Apr 07, 2026 - 17:09 nvd
HIGH 8.4

DescriptionCVE.org

OpenHarness prior to commit 166fcfe contains an improper access control vulnerability in built-in file tools due to inconsistent parameter handling in permission enforcement, allowing attackers who can influence agent tool execution to read arbitrary local files outside the intended repository scope. Attackers can exploit the path parameter not being passed to the PermissionChecker in read_file, write_file, edit_file, and notebook_edit tools to bypass deny rules and access sensitive files such as configuration files, credentials, and SSH material, or create and overwrite files in restricted host paths in full_auto mode.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

OpenHarness versions prior to commit 166fcfe contain an access control flaw that allows authenticated local users to read sensitive files (credentials, SSH keys, configuration data) and write files outside repository boundaries by exploiting inconsistent permission validation in four file operation tools. This directly compromises credential security and system configuration integrity for any organization using OpenHarness in multi-user or agent-based environments.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

If patched version not yet available: (1) Restrict local user and agent access to OpenHarness file operation tools via role-based access control until fix is deployed; (2) Implement file system-level access controls to prevent reads/writes outside repository directories; (3) Monitor and log all file operations performed through read_file, write_file, edit_file, and notebook_edit functions; (4) Require multi-factor authentication for any local user account with agent tool execution privileges. Apply vendor patch immediately upon release.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 99% exploitable
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment GitHub VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

42
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +42
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

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Cross-session information disclosure in HKUDS OpenHarness ohmo gateway allows admitted remote senders to invoke /resume

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Path traversal in OpenHarness allows authenticated gateway users with chat access to read arbitrary files on the server

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5.3 Jun 23

Remote prompt injection in OpenHarness allows low-privileged messaging channel participants to persistently corrupt AI a

CVE-2026-6729 MEDIUM
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