CVE-2026-39421 | MaxKB: Sandbox escape via ctypes and unhooked SYS_pkey_mprotect

MaxKB is an open-source AI assistant for enterprise. Versions 2.7.1 and below contain a sandbox escape vulnerability in the ToolExecutor component. By leveraging Python's ctypes library to execute raw system calls, an authenticated attacker with workspace privileges can bypass the LD_PRELOAD-based sandbox.so module to achieve arbitrary code execution via direct kernel system calls, enabling full network exfiltration and container compromise. The library intercepts critical standard system functions such as execve, system, connect, and open. It also intercepts mprotect to prevent PROT_EXEC (executable memory) allocations within the sandboxed Python processes, but pkey_mprotect is not blocked. This issue has been fixed in version 2.8.0.

Published: 2026-04-13 Last update: 2026-06-17 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2026-39421 is rated Low Risk (31.5/100): CVSS Medium severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.26%). Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2026-39421

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 0.07% 0.26% +0.19%
2 2026-04-14 — 0.07% —

Full EPSS history (2 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2026-39421

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
6.3 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:L)
Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump.
Integrity (I:L)
Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
 2.8 3.4 [email protected]
7.4 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:C)
Breaking this can reach past the original component and bite other resources—bigger blast radius.
Confidentiality (C:L)
Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump.
Integrity (I:L)
Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
 3.1 3.7 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2026-39421

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2026-39421

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
maxkb maxkb < 2.8.0 cpe:2.3:a:maxkb:maxkb:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*

References for CVE-2026-39421

cvelogic Threat Intelligence