CVE-2026-41138: Flowise AirtableAgent RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-41138 Overview

CVE-2026-41138 is a remote code execution vulnerability affecting Flowise, a drag & drop user interface designed to build customized large language model (LLM) flows. The vulnerability exists in the AirtableAgent.ts component prior to version 3.1.0 and stems from a lack of input verification when using Pandas integration. User-supplied input is directly applied to the question parameter within the prompt template and reflected to Python code execution without any sanitization, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code on the underlying system.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution on Flowise instances by injecting malicious Python code through the question parameter, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• Flowise versions prior to 3.1.0
• Flowise installations using AirtableAgent with Pandas integration

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-23 - CVE CVE-2026-41138 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-41138

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as Code Injection (CWE-94), which allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application context. The flaw resides in the AirtableAgent.ts component where user-controlled input flows directly into Python code execution without proper validation or sanitization.

The attack requires network access and low-privileged authentication to exploit. When successful, an attacker can achieve high confidentiality and integrity impact, with low availability impact on the target system. The vulnerability does not change the scope of the attack, meaning exploitation is contained to the vulnerable component's security context.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the AirtableAgent component. When processing user queries, the application takes the question parameter from user input and embeds it directly into a prompt template that generates Python code using Pandas. This generated code is then executed without any sanitization or security controls, creating a direct path from user input to code execution.

The lack of input verification allows malicious payloads embedded in the question parameter to break out of the intended context and inject arbitrary Python code that will be executed by the server.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires low-privileged access to the Flowise application. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input in the question parameter when interacting with the AirtableAgent functionality.

The exploitation process involves injecting Python code through the question parameter. Since the application reflects this input directly into executable Python code without sanitization, the injected code executes with the privileges of the Flowise server process. This can lead to arbitrary command execution, data exfiltration, lateral movement, or complete system compromise.

For detailed technical information about the vulnerability mechanism, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41138

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual Python process spawning from the Flowise application
• Unexpected outbound network connections from the Flowise server
• Anomalous system commands being executed in the context of the Flowise process
• Log entries showing malformed or suspicious question parameter inputs containing Python syntax

Detection Strategies

• Monitor AirtableAgent API endpoints for requests containing Python code patterns, shell commands, or import statements in the question parameter
• Implement application-level logging to capture all inputs to the AirtableAgent component for forensic analysis
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect code injection patterns in API requests
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for child processes spawned by the Flowise application

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on Flowise instances to capture all user interactions with the AirtableAgent feature
• Set up alerts for unexpected Python module imports or subprocess executions originating from the Flowise process
• Monitor network traffic from Flowise servers for suspicious outbound connections that may indicate command-and-control communication

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41138

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Flowise to version 3.1.0 or later immediately
• If immediate upgrade is not possible, disable or restrict access to the AirtableAgent functionality
• Review access controls and ensure only authorized users can interact with the affected component
• Audit logs for any signs of exploitation attempts or successful attacks

Patch Information

This vulnerability is fixed in Flowise version 3.1.0. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. The patch implements proper input validation and sanitization for the question parameter before it is processed by the Python code execution logic.

For additional details, consult the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to Flowise instances using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Implement strong authentication and limit access to the AirtableAgent feature to trusted users only
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to block requests containing Python code patterns in API parameters
• Run Flowise in a sandboxed or containerized environment to limit the impact of potential exploitation

# Example: Restrict access to Flowise using iptables
# Allow only specific trusted IP addresses to access the Flowise port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3000 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3000 -j DROP