Weakness (CWE)
CWE-78: OS Command Injection
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How to prevent it (8 mitigations)
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Architecture and Design
If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
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Architecture and Design, Operation
Run the code in a "jail" or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which files can be accessed in a particular directory or which commands can be executed by the software.
OS-level examples include the Unix chroot jail, AppArmor, and SELinux. In general, managed code may provide some protection. For example, java.io.FilePermission in the Java SecurityManager allows the software to specify restrictions on file operations.
This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of the application may still be subject to compromise.
Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
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Architecture and Design
For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
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Architecture and Design
For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
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Architecture and Design
Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
For example, consider using the ESAPI Encoding control [REF-45] or a similar tool, library, or framework. These will help the programmer encode outputs in a manner less prone to error.
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Implementation
While it is risky to use dynamically-generated query strings, code, or commands that mix control and data together, sometimes it may be unavoidable. Properly quote arguments and escape any special characters within those arguments. The most conservative approach is to escape or filter all characters that do not pass an extremely strict allowlist (such as everything that is not alphanumeric or white space). If some special characters are still needed, such as white space, wrap each argument in quotes after the escaping/filtering step. Be careful of argument injection (CWE-88).
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Implementation
If the program to be executed allows arguments to be specified within an input file or from standard input, then consider using that mode to pass arguments instead of the command line.
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Architecture and Design
If available, use structured mechanisms that automatically enforce the separation between data and code. These mechanisms may be able to provide the relevant quoting, encoding, and validation automatically, instead of relying on the developer to provide this capability at every point where output is generated.
Some languages offer multiple functions that can be used to invoke commands. Where possible, identify any function that invokes a command shell using a single string, and replace it with a function that requires individual arguments. These functions typically perform appropriate quoting and filtering of arguments. For example, in C, the system() function accepts a string that contains the entire command to be executed, whereas execl(), execve(), and others require an array of strings, one for each argument. In Windows, CreateProcess() only accepts one command at a time. In Perl, if system() is provided with an array of arguments, then it will quote each of the arguments.
Source: MITRE CWE-78
5,327 results · Feed
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High 8.8
Langflow is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution due to multiple incomplete code security controls and missing execution guards
IBM Langflow OSS 1.0.0 through 1.11.5 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands due to improper validation of command-line arguments in the MCP stdio server configuration.
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Critical 9.8
Langflow is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution due to multiple incomplete code security controls and missing execution guards
IBM Langflow OSS 1.0.0 through 1.11.5 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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High 8.8
DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data has several vulnerabilities due to open source software
IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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High 8.8
DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data has several vulnerabilities due to open source software
IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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High 8.8
DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data has several vulnerabilities due to open source software
IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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High 8.8
DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data has several vulnerabilities due to open source software
IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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High 7.8
A potential command injection vulnerability was reported in the Tianxi AI Agent PC Application, distributed exclusively…
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High 7.2
FileRun < 2026.3.0 OS Command Injection via escapeshellcmd() No-Op Redefinition
FileRun before 2026.3.0 contains an OS command injection vulnerability caused by a no-op redefinition of escapeshellcmd() in CLI.php that strips shell-metacharacter escaping, allowing attacker-controlled input to reach an exec() sink unsanitized. Attackers ca…
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High 8.8
FileRun < 2026.3.0 OS Command Injection via PhotoProofSheet Handler
FileRun before 2026.3.0 contains an OS command injection vulnerability in the PhotoProofSheet handler that allows authenticated users with upload permission to execute arbitrary commands by uploading files with shell metacharacters in their names. Attackers c…
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Critical 9.2
Improper escaping of a request URL in ConfigServer Security & Firewall allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to exe…
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Critical 9.5
OS command injection in the advanced-rule parser of ConfigServer Security & Firewall allows a remote attacker who contr…
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Critical 9.1
Dell ThinOS 10, versions prior to 2605_10. 2616, contains an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS …
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Critical 9.8
Dell ThinOS 10, versions prior to 2605_10. 2616, contains an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS …
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High 8.8
ICEcoder through 8.1 OS Command Injection via lib/properties.php
ICEcoder through 8.1 passes an unescaped filesystem path into a shell command in lib/properties.php, allowing authenticated users to inject OS commands through directory names. Attackers can create directories with shell metacharacters in their names and acce…
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High 7.8
Renovate before 44.14.7 Command Injection via distributionType
Renovate before 44.14.7 contains a command injection vulnerability in the Maven Wrapper manager that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by specifying a malicious distributionType parameter in maven-wrapper.properties. Attackers can inject shell co…
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High 7.0
Renovate before 44.14.7 Command Injection via Mix organization
Renovate before 44.14.7 contains a command injection vulnerability in the Mix manager when processing private dependencies with unescaped organization parameters. Attackers can inject shell metacharacters through malicious package names to execute arbitrary c…
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High 7.8
Renovate before 44.14.7 Command Injection via gradle-wrapper
Renovate is a dependency update automation tool. In versions before 44.14.7 (and in Mend Renovate CE/EE distributions before 15.4.0, and the mend-renovate-enterprise-edition Helm chart before 10.4.0), the manager/gradle-wrapper module does not escape the dist…
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High 7.0
Renovate before 44.14.7 Command Injection via depName
Renovate before 44.14.7 contains a command injection vulnerability in the gomod manager when processing unescaped depName parameters in import-path update commands with binarySource=docker mode. Attackers can inject shell metacharacters through malicious depe…
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High 7.2
GV-LPCLPC2011/2211 - Stored FTP-Username Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an administrator-controlled FTP username containing shell metacharacters to be executed as arbitrary root commands during a subsequent FTP-account update.
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High 8.8
GV-LPCLPC2011/2211 - ONVIF Subscribe Address Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an authenticated ONVIF user to inject shell commands through ConsumerReference.Address and execute arbitrary commands as root.
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High 7.2
GV-LPCLPC2011/2211 - Wireless WEP Key1-Key4 Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows administrator-controlled WEP key values containing shell syntax to execute arbitrary commands as root.
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High 7.2
GV-LPC2011/LPC2211 - Wireless WPA-PSK Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an administrator-controlled WPA-PSK containing shell syntax to execute arbitrary commands as root when wireless configuration is applied.
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High 7.2
GV-LPC2011/LPC2211 - Wireless SSID Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an administrator-controlled wireless SSID containing shell syntax to execute arbitrary commands as root.
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High 7.2
GV-LPC2011/LPC2211 - PPPoE Username Shell-Configuration Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an administrator-controlled PPPoE username to escape a sourced shell configuration assignment and execute arbitrary commands as root.
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High 7.2
GV-LPC2011/LPC2211 - Stored Administrator-Username Command Injection
GeoVision GV-LPC2211 V1.13 allows an administrator-controlled username containing shell metacharacters to be executed as arbitrary root commands when the stored username is later deleted.
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Low 1.1
Checkov by Prisma Cloud: OS Command Injection Vulnerability
An OS command injection vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Checkov by Prisma® Cloud enables a local user to execute arbitrary commands in the processes running Checkov.
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Medium 4.0
PAN-OS: Authenticated Command Injection in CLI with Luna HSM Configuration
A command injection vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® software enables an authenticated administrator to bypass system restrictions and run arbitrary commands as a root user. To be able to exploit this issue, the user must have access to the PAN-OS …
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Critical 9.6
Read-only enforcement bypass enabling operating system command execution in the SQL validation component of Amazon awslabs postgres-mcp-server
An OS command injection weakness in the read-only enforcement of the SQL validation component in Amazon awslabs postgres-mcp-server before 1.1.7 might allow an unauthenticated actor to execute operating system commands on the host of a self-managed PostgreSQL…
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High 7.2
Authenticated Arbitrary File Write allows Remote Code Execution via CPPM Web Interface
A vulnerability in the CPPM web interface could allow an authenticated remote attacker to access directory information on a vulnerable system. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system.
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High 7.2
Authenticated Remote Code Execution in CPPM Web Interface
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of vulnerable CPPM systems could allow an authenticated remote attacker to achieve remote code execution. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying ope…
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High 8.7
CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability exists…
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Medium 6.7
Dell PowerScale OneFS, Versions 9.5.0.0 through 9.7.1.0, Versions 9.8.0.0 through 9.10.1.0, and Versions 9.11.0.0 throu…
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High 7.2
Dell iDRAC9, 14G versions prior to 7.00.00.184, 15G/16G versions prior to 7.30.10.50, and Dell iDRAC10, 17G versions pr…
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Medium 5.3
Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to 5.36.00.00, contains…
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High 7.5
Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to 5.36.00.00, contains…
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High 7.0
Tanium addressed an unauthorized code execution vulnerability in Enforce.
Tanium addressed an unauthorized code execution vulnerability in Enforce.
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Medium 6.7
Improper Input Neutralization in Okta Access Gateway SNMP Configuration Processing
The Okta Access Gateway does not neutralize shell metacharacters in SNMP configuration values before a privileged script uses them to construct OS commands. An authenticated local user with access to the management interface can supply crafted values, resulti…
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Critical 10.0
Adobe Campaign Classic (ACC) | Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (CWE-78)
Adobe Campaign Classic (ACC) is affected by an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. An attacker could exploit…
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High 7.2
Azure HDInsight Ambari Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper neutralization of special elements used in an os command ('os command injection') in Azure HDInsights allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.2
Snipe-IT before 8.7.0 Remote Code Execution via Backup Restore
Snipe-IT before 8.7.0 streams the SQL entry from an uploaded backup archive directly into the MySQL/MariaDB command-line client (`mysql`) without the --binary-mode flag, so the client interprets lines beginning with backslash commands such as `\!` as local sh…