CVE-2026-45311 CRITICAL

CVE-2026-45311: CodeWhale: run_tests Tool Enables RCE via Malicious Repository Without Approval

Vendor Hmbown
Product CodeWhale
Weakness CWE-94 · Code injection
Published May 28, 2026
Last update June 1, 2026

CVSS base score

9.6/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction Required
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

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

What the vulnerability does

01Description

CodeWhale is a DeepSeek + MiMo coding agent in terminal. From 0.3.0 to 0.8.23, the run_tests tool executes cargo test in the workspace with ApprovalRequirement::Auto, meaning it runs without any user approval prompt. cargo test compiles and executes arbitrary code: test binaries, build.rs build scripts, and proc macros. While auto-approving test execution is a deliberate design choice, it creates an inconsistency in the security boundary. However, in a malicious repository, test code can execute arbitrary shell commands, exfiltrate credentials, or establish persistence with zero approval. The attack is amplified by AGENTS.md (auto-loaded into the system prompt), which can instruct the model to run tests proactively at session start. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.23.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

May 28, 2026 CVE published
June 1, 2026 Record updated