CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2026-5366 — Prefect Prefect security vulnerability

Critical CVSS 9.9

Prefect version 3.6.23 is vulnerable to remote code execution due to improper handling of user-controlled input in the `GitRepository` storage class. The `commit_sha` parameter, which is passed to git commands, lacks validation and does not include a `--` separator to distinguish user input from git flags. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary git flags, such as `--upload-pack`, enabling execution of external programs. Additionally, the `directories` parameter can be exploited to inject git flags during sparse-checkout operations. These vulnerabilities allow any user with deployment creation permissions to execute arbitrary commands on worker machines, compromising shared work pools in multi-tenant environments.

Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.9 (3.0)
Published
2026-06-20
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-94

Affected products

  • prefect / prefect / 3.6.23

Matched remediation archetype

Command, code, expression, and template injection

This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.

Check exposure

  • Trace untrusted values to process execution, interpreters, evaluators, template engines, dynamic imports, and administrative scripting features.
  • Determine whether the affected path is reachable across each trust boundary and which service account or host privilege it inherits.
  • Review configuration for optional execution features, unsafe compatibility modes, and shell invocation.

Remediate safely

  • Replace string-built commands or evaluated code with fixed operations and structured argument APIs that do not invoke a shell.
  • Use strict allowlists for operation identifiers and reject unexpected input before it reaches any interpreter.
  • Update the affected component and add inert regression tests covering metacharacters, encoding variants, and alternate request paths.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

The detailed catalog view below loads this exact record, its source evidence, and the full seven-phase agentic change plan.