IBM Langflow OSS Authenticated OS Command Injection
First seen Aug 5, 2026 · Updated Aug 5, 2026 · CVSS 7.2
IBM Langflow, an open-source visual builder for AI agent/LLM workflows, contains an OS command injection flaw exploitable by an authenticated remote attacker to run arbitrary commands on the host. Because Langflow orchestrates agent pipelines and often has access to credentials, tools, and downstream systems, a compromise here can cascade into broader agent infrastructure. The CVSS 7.2 score reflects high impact but a requirement for authenticated access, moderating the overall risk.
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special characters/elements in input that is passed into an OS command execution context somewhere in Langflow's flow-execution or component-processing logic. An authenticated attacker (e.g., a user with a valid Langflow account or API token) can supply crafted input—likely via a flow component, custom code node, or configuration parameter—that breaks out of the intended command context and injects arbitrary shell commands. Successful exploitation grants the attacker code execution with the privileges of the Langflow service process, potentially exposing environment secrets, connected LLM API keys, database credentials, and any tools/MCP servers the agent platform is wired to. This crosses the boundary from a single authenticated user session into full host compromise, and from there into any downstream agents, tools, or services Langflow integrates with.
Affected Systems
IBM Langflow OSS
Detection Signatures
- Unexpected child processes spawned by the langflow service user
- Shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, `, $()) present in flow component input fields or API request bodies
- Unusual outbound network connections originating from the Langflow host following flow execution
- Audit logs showing execution of system utilities (curl, wget, bash, sh, nc) from the Langflow process
- API requests to flow/component endpoints containing encoded or nested shell payloads
Remediation Steps
- 1
Upgrade Langflow
Update IBM Langflow OSS to a patched version beyond 1.10.3 as soon as it is released; monitor IBM/Langflow advisories for the fix version.
- 2
Restrict authenticated access
Limit which users/roles can create or edit flows and components, since exploitation requires an authenticated account; apply least-privilege to Langflow user roles.
- 3
Sandbox execution environment
Run Langflow in an isolated container or VM with no access to sensitive credentials, internal networks, or other agent infrastructure, and enforce egress filtering.
- 4
Input validation and monitoring
Deploy WAF/input validation rules to detect shell metacharacters in flow/component parameters and enable process-level monitoring/alerting for unexpected child processes on the Langflow host.
- 5
Rotate credentials
If exploitation is suspected, rotate all API keys, database credentials, and secrets accessible to the Langflow service.
CVE / Advisory IDs
Industries Most Exposed
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