CodeWhale: run_tests Tool Enables RCE via Malicious Repository Without Approval

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Summary

CVECVE-2026-45311
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-05-28 18:16:35 UTC
Updated2026-05-28 18:40:37 UTC
DescriptionCodeWhale is a DeepSeek + MiMo coding agent in terminal. From 0.3.0 to 0.8.23, the run_tests tool executes cargo test in the workspace with ApprovalRequirement::Auto, meaning it runs without any user approval prompt. cargo test compiles and executes arbitrary code: test binaries, build.rs build scripts, and proc macros. While auto-approving test execution is a deliberate design choice, it creates an inconsistency in the security boundary. However, in a malicious repository, test code can execute arbitrary shell commands, exfiltrate credentials, or establish persistence with zero approval. The attack is amplified by AGENTS.md (auto-loaded into the system prompt), which can instruct the model to run tests proactively at session start. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.23.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 9.6 CRITICAL from [email protected]

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS: 0.000440000 probability, percentile 0.137860000 (date 2026-05-29)

Problem Types: CWE-94 | CWE-94 CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary9.6CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNADECLARED9.6CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Hmbown CodeWhale affected >= 0.3.0, < 0.8.23 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/security/advisories/GHSA-wx44-2q6h-j6p8 [email protected] github.com
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