AI Agent Automation: Workflow file step path traversal allows read and write outside the expected directory
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
AI Agent Automation is a modular AI agent workflow automation platform with schedulers, tools, and observability. Prior to 0.9.1, the executeStep file-step implementation in backend/src/agents/executor.js passes the user-controlled step.path value through path.resolve with process.cwd() and then uses the resulting path for read or write operations without checking that it remains in an approved workflow directory. An authenticated user who can create or modify workflow file steps can supply traversal segments to escape the intended workspace and read sensitive files or write and overwrite files accessible to the backend process, including application-adjacent files when process permissions allow. This issue is fixed in version 0.9.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vmDeshpande | ai-agent-automation | before 0.9.1 | 0.9.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- ai-agent-automation VendorvmDeshpande Affected before 0.9.1 Fixed in 0.9.1 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA ai-agent-automation (vmDeshpande) Fixed in 0.9.1
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-54520
References
More vmDeshpande vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-39365 AI Agent Automation: Missing ownership checks in memory APIs allow cross-user memory read and deletion CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences