# CVE-2026-40156: PraisonAI arbitrary code execution via automatic tools.py loading

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40156-praisonai-arbitrary-code-execution-via-automatic-tools-py-loading  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-10. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40156 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-04-10

PraisonAI, a tool for managing AI agents, automatically executes code from a file named 'tools.py' if it is present in the current folder when the application starts. An attacker could trick a user into downloading a malicious project folder or submitting a malicious file to a shared environment, leading to full control over the user's system or CI/CD pipeline. This poses a significant risk to developers and automated systems that process untrusted project files.

Technologies: [Praisonai](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/praisonai), [praisonai (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-praisonai). Vendors: [Praison](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/praison), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40156 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40156 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40156?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 10 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** praisonai (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.5.128.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40156?** Yes. praisonai (PyPI): upgrade to 4.5.128 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-40156 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40156?** Check whether you run Praisonai or praisonai (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- praisonai (PyPI): upgrade to 4.5.128 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "praisonai>=4.5.128"
  ```


## Technical details

PraisonAI's ToolResolver component automatically searches for and loads a file named 'tools.py' from the current working directory (CWD) to register custom agent tools. The vulnerability exists in `src/praisonai/praisonai/tool_resolver.py` within the `_load_local_tools` method, which uses `importlib.util.spec_from_file_location` and `spec.loader.exec_module()` to import the file. Because this occurs implicitly upon startup without validation or explicit user opt-in, any code at the module level of a malicious 'tools.py' file will execute with the privileges of the PraisonAI process. This can be exploited via social engineering (e.g., malicious repository templates) or in shared environments like CI/CD pipelines. The issue is fixed in version 4.5.128.

## Affected products

- MervinPraison praisonai < 4.5.128

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-40156
- GHSA-2g3w-cpc4-chr4
- PYSEC-2026-2895

## Timeline

- 2026-04-09: disclosed: Vulnerability published by MervinPraison
- 2026-04-10: advisory: GitHub Advisory published and reviewed
- 2026-04-10: patched: Fix released in version 4.5.128

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt)
- [https://github.com/l3tchupkt](https://github.com/l3tchupkt)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/repos](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/191794587?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/191794587?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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