CVE-2026-39420: MaxKB is an open-source AI assistant for enterprise. In versions 2.7.1 and below, an incomplete sandbox protection mechanism allows an authenticated u...

Description

MaxKB is an open-source AI assistant for enterprise. In versions 2.7.1 and below, an incomplete sandbox protection mechanism allows an authenticated user with tool execution privileges to escape the LD_PRELOAD-based sandbox. By env command the attacker can clear the environment variables and drop the sandbox.so hook, leading to unrestricted Remote Code Execution (RCE) and network access. MaxKB restricts untrusted Python code execution via the Tool Debug API by injecting sandbox.so through the LD_PRELOAD environment variable. This intercepts sensitive C library functions (like execve, socket, open) to restrict network and file access. However, a patch allowed the /usr/bin/env utility to be executed by the sandboxed user. When an attacker is permitted to create subprocesses, they can execute the env -i python command. The -i flag instructs env to completely clear all environment variables before running the target program. This effectively drops the LD_PRELOAD environment variable. The newly spawned Python process will therefore execute natively without any sandbox hooks, bypassing all network and file system restrictions. This issue has been fixed in version 2.8.0.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.4/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.48%

38.1th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Maxkb	Maxkb	< 2.8.0

References

Timeline

Published: Apr 14, 2026
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-39420?

MaxKB is an open-source AI assistant for enterprise. In versions 2.7.1 and below, an incomplete sandbox protection mechanism allows an authenticated user with tool execution privileges to escape the LD_PRELOAD-based sandbox. By env command the attacker can clear the environment variables and drop the sandbox.so hook, leading to unrestricted Remote Code Execution (RCE) and network access. MaxKB restricts untrusted Python code execution via the Tool Debug API by injecting sandbox.so through the LD_PRELOAD environment variable. This intercepts sensitive C library functions (like execve, socket, open) to restrict network and file access. However, a patch allowed the /usr/bin/env utility to be executed by the sandboxed user. When an attacker is permitted to create subprocesses, they can execute the env -i python command. The -i flag instructs env to completely clear all environment variables before running the target program. This effectively drops the LD_PRELOAD environment variable. The newly spawned Python process will therefore execute natively without any sandbox hooks, bypassing all network and file system restrictions. This issue has been fixed in version 2.8.0.

How severe is CVE-2026-39420?

CVE-2026-39420 has a CVSS score of 7.4/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.48% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-39420?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

How Strix Helps

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