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CVE-2026-41900 is a critical vulnerability in the OpenLearnX learning platform that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server. The flaw resides in the `/api/compiler/execute` endpoint, which is designed to let students submit code for execution in a sandboxed environment. However, the implementation of this sandbox was fundamentally broken. The endpoint, handled by the `execute_in_container()` function in backend/routes/coding.py, lacked any authentication decorator, meaning anyone could send a request to it. When a request is received, the server writes the user-supplied code to a temporary file in the `/tmp` directory. It then starts a Docker container to execute this code. The critical mistake is that the server mounts the entire `/tmp` directory of the host machine into the container as a read-only volume. This means the container, and by extension the attacker’s code, can read every file in the host’s `/tmp` directory. Furthermore, the container is started with root privileges and without dropping capabilities or applying a restrictive security profile. An attacker can exploit this by submitting Python code that escapes the sandbox—often using Python’s introspection features to access dangerous functions—and then reads sensitive files from the mounted volume. These files can include application secrets, API keys, configuration files, and even other users’ code submissions. The vulnerability was discovered by the OSDC automated patch intelligence pipeline, which flagged a silent advisory (GHSA-8h25-q488-4hxw) with no technical details. Analysis of the fix commit (14765d7) revealed the insecure code was replaced with a hardened compiler service. This vulnerability is a classic example of a container escape combined with a path traversal issue, leading to a full compromise of the host’s temporary file system and potentially the entire application.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: OpenLearnX
Version: < commit 14765d7
Vulnerability : Container Volume Mount
Severity: High (8.6)
date: 2026-05-06
Prediction: 2026-05-08
(end of form)
What Undercode Say:
Clone the proof-of-concept repository git clone https://github.com/Christbowel/CVE-2026-41900-POC.git cd CVE-2026-41900-POC Check if a target is vulnerable python3 exploit.py --check http://target:5000 Run all gadgets and generate an evidence JSON file python3 exploit.py --exploit http://target:5000 Execute a single command on the target python3 exploit.py -c "id" http://target:5000 python3 exploit.py -c "cat /etc/passwd" http://target:5000 Drop into a pseudo-interactive shell python3 exploit.py --shell http://target:5000
Exploit: (Educational Purposes!)
The exploit for CVE-2026-41900 works by sending a crafted POST request to the unauthenticated `/api/compiler/execute` endpoint. The request contains Python code that, when executed inside the vulnerable Docker container, escapes the sandbox using Python’s `subprocess.Popen` or similar mechanisms to run arbitrary system commands. Because the entire `/tmp` directory is mounted into the container, the attacker’s code can read any file in the host’s `/tmp` folder. The provided PoC script automates this process, allowing an attacker to list directory contents, read sensitive files, confirm root execution, and even spawn a reverse shell. The exploit is reliable because the vulnerable endpoint requires no authentication and the container misconfiguration is severe.
Protection: from this CVE
The primary protection is to upgrade OpenLearnX to version 2.0.3 or later. The patch for this vulnerability (commit 14765d7) replaces the insecure `execute_in_container` function with a hardened real_compiler_service. This new service properly isolates the execution environment, likely by using a dedicated sandbox with restricted file system access, dropping unnecessary privileges, and applying security profiles. Administrators should also ensure that all endpoints that execute user-supplied code are protected by authentication and authorization checks. As a general mitigation, avoid mounting host directories into containers, especially when executing untrusted code, and always run containers with the principle of least privilege.
Impact:
The impact of CVE-2026-41900 is severe. An unauthenticated attacker can achieve remote code execution on the host server, leading to a complete compromise of the OpenLearnX platform. The attacker can read sensitive data such as application secrets, database credentials, JWT signing keys, and configuration files, which could be used to further compromise the system. They can also access other users’ code submissions, violating user privacy and potentially stealing intellectual property. Because the container runs as root, the attacker could potentially escalate privileges and move laterally within the network. The vulnerability effectively turns the code execution sandbox into a gateway for full system takeover.
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Sources:
Reported By: github.com
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