CrewAI JSON Loader Arbitrary Local File Read (CVE-2026-2285)

Detects CVE-2026-2285 (CVSS HIGH, CWE-22): CrewAI's JSON document loader accepts a file path without sanitisation, allowing an agent or tool input to traverse outside the intended data directory and read arbitrary local files (e.g., /etc/passwd, ~/.ssh/id_rsa, .env secrets) by supplying a path-traversal sequence in the loader argument. The vulnerability is part of the CERT/CC VU#221883 advisory cluster (four CrewAI CVEs, 2026-03-30). The JSON loader is invoked when CrewAI processes RAG documents; a crafted document path causes the loader to return the contents of an attacker-specified file, which the agent then includes in its context and may exfiltrate via subsequent tool calls. Detection covers: (a) Path-traversal sequences in JSON loader file path arguments; (b) Absolute paths to sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd, .env, .ssh); (c) CrewAI document loader with directory traversal or sensitive-file targets; (d) Explicit CVE-2026-2285 / CrewAI JSON loader file-read framing.

Response Actions

References

1. 01

   JSON/document loader invocation with either a path-traversal sequence (2+ levels up) or a known sensitive-file target — CVE-2026-2285 local file read via CrewAI document loader

   field: contentop: regex
2. 02

   CrewAI combined with a document/JSON loader and a sensitive path or traversal sequence — attack framing specific to CVE-2026-2285

   field: contentop: regex
3. 03

   Explicit CVE-2026-2285 reference or CrewAI file-read framing combined with exploitation language or sensitive file targets

   field: contentop: regex

Attack Examples (Rule Triggers)

1. JSONLoader('../../../../etc/passwd')

2. document_loader path: ../../../.env

3. crewai json_loader ../../.ssh/id_rsa exfil CVE-2026-2285

4. JSONLoader('/root/.aws/credentials')

5. CVE-2026-2285: CrewAI JSON loader reads /etc/passwd via unsanitised path

Real-world attack payloads (sanitized). Used for regression testing.

Benign Examples (Rule Doesn't Trigger)

1. Legitimate JSON loader with a safe absolute data path

   JSONLoader('/data/documents/report.json')

2. Normal CrewAI document directory reference — no traversal

   crewai loads documents from the /tmp/uploads/ directory

3. Mitigation advisory without exploit content

   Upgrade CrewAI to fix CVE-2026-2285

Known False Positive Contexts

• ▸Legitimate document loaders referencing known-good data directories — pattern requires traversal or sensitive-file targets.
• ▸Security advisory text quoting CVE-2026-2285 file paths.
• ▸References to /etc/ in system administration documentation without traversal context.

title: "CrewAI JSON Loader Arbitrary Local File Read (CVE-2026-2285)"
id: ATR-2026-00546
rule_version: 1
status: draft
description: >
  Detects CVE-2026-2285 (CVSS HIGH, CWE-22): CrewAI's JSON document loader
  accepts a file path without sanitisation, allowing an agent or tool input
  to traverse outside the intended data directory and read arbitrary local
  files (e.g., /etc/passwd, ~/.ssh/id_rsa, .env secrets) by supplying a
  path-traversal sequence in the loader argument.

  The vulnerability is part of the CERT/CC VU#221883 advisory cluster
  (four CrewAI CVEs, 2026-03-30). The JSON loader is invoked when CrewAI
  processes RAG documents; a crafted document path causes the loader to
  return the contents of an attacker-specified file, which the agent then
  includes in its context and may exfiltrate via subsequent tool calls.

  Detection covers:
  (a) Path-traversal sequences in JSON loader file path arguments;
  (b) Absolute paths to sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd, .env, .ssh);
  (c) CrewAI document loader with directory traversal or sensitive-file targets;
  (d) Explicit CVE-2026-2285 / CrewAI JSON loader file-read framing.
author: "ATR Community"
date: "2026/05/28"
schema_version: "0.1"
detection_tier: pattern
maturity: draft
severity: high

references:
  owasp_llm:
    - "LLM06:2025 - Excessive Agency"
    - "LLM05:2025 - Improper Output Handling"
  owasp_agentic:
    - "ASI03:2026 - Data Exfiltration"
  mitre_atlas:
    - "AML.T0043 - Craft Adversarial Data"
  mitre_attack:
    - "T1083 - File and Directory Discovery"
    - "T1552 - Unsecured Credentials"
  cve:
    - "CVE-2026-2285"

metadata_provenance:
  mitre_atlas: human-reviewed
  owasp_llm: human-reviewed
  owasp_agentic: human-reviewed

compliance:
  eu_ai_act:
    - article: "15"
      context: >
        CVE-2026-2285 allows arbitrary local file read via the CrewAI JSON
        loader without path sanitisation; Article 15 cybersecurity requirements
        mandate that AI agent document loaders canonicalise paths and restrict
        access to the intended data directory.
      strength: primary
  nist_ai_rmf:
    - subcategory: "MP.5.1"
      context: >
        Path traversal in a document loader argument enabling sensitive file
        read constitutes an adversarial input; MP.5.1 requires scanning
        document loader path arguments for traversal sequences.
      strength: primary
  iso_42001:
    - clause: "8.6"
      context: >
        Operational controls must detect and block document loader invocations
        with path traversal sequences targeting sensitive files outside the
        intended data scope.
      strength: primary

tags:
  category: privilege-escalation
  subcategory: path-traversal-file-read
  scan_target: both
  confidence: high
  source: cve-disclosure
  vendor_sources: crewai-vu221883

agent_source:
  type: llm_io
  framework:
    - crewai
    - any
  provider:
    - any

detection:
  condition: any
  false_positives:
    - "Legitimate document loaders referencing known-good data directories — pattern requires traversal or sensitive-file targets."
    - "Security advisory text quoting CVE-2026-2285 file paths."
    - "References to /etc/ in system administration documentation without traversal context."
  conditions:
    - field: content
      operator: regex
      value: '(?i)(?:json[_-]?loader|load[_-]?json|JSONLoader|document[_-]?loader)[^\n]{0,200}(?:(?:\.\.\/|\.\.\\){2,}|(?:\/etc\/(?:passwd|shadow|hosts)|\/root\/|\/home\/[^/]+\/\.ssh|\.env|\.aws\/credentials|\.npmrc|id_rsa))'
      description: >
        JSON/document loader invocation with either a path-traversal sequence
        (2+ levels up) or a known sensitive-file target — CVE-2026-2285
        local file read via CrewAI document loader

    - field: content
      operator: regex
      value: '(?i)(?:crewai|crew_ai|CrewAI)[^\n]{0,200}(?:json[_-]?loader|load[_-]?json|document[_-]?loader)[^\n]{0,200}(?:\.\.\/|\/etc\/|\.env|\.ssh|id_rsa|credentials)'
      description: >
        CrewAI combined with a document/JSON loader and a sensitive path
        or traversal sequence — attack framing specific to CVE-2026-2285

    - field: content
      operator: regex
      value: '(?i)(?:CVE-2026-2285|crewai[^\n]{0,80}(?:file[_\s-]?read|local[_\s-]?file|json[_\s-]?loader))[^\n]{0,200}(?:inject|read|exfil|bypass|traverse|sensitive|passwd|\.env|\.ssh)'
      description: >
        Explicit CVE-2026-2285 reference or CrewAI file-read framing combined
        with exploitation language or sensitive file targets

response:
  actions:
    - alert
    - block_tool
  message_template: >
    [ATR-2026-00546] HIGH: CrewAI JSON loader with path traversal or
    sensitive-file target detected (CVE-2026-2285, CWE-22). The CrewAI JSON
    loader does not sanitise document paths, allowing traversal to read
    arbitrary local files (/etc/passwd, .env, SSH keys). Block this loader
    call; canonicalise document paths and restrict loader access to the
    intended data directory. Part of VU#221883 advisory cluster — upgrade
    CrewAI to the patched version.

confidence: 80

wild_fp_rate: 0

test_cases:
  true_positives:
    - input: "JSONLoader('../../../../etc/passwd')"
      expected: triggered
      description: "JSON loader with path traversal to /etc/passwd"
    - input: "document_loader path: ../../../.env"
      expected: triggered
      description: "Document loader with traversal to .env secrets file"
    - input: "crewai json_loader ../../.ssh/id_rsa exfil CVE-2026-2285"
      expected: triggered
      description: "CrewAI JSON loader + SSH key + CVE reference"
    - input: "JSONLoader('/root/.aws/credentials')"
      expected: triggered
      description: "JSON loader with absolute path to AWS credentials"
    - input: "CVE-2026-2285: CrewAI JSON loader reads /etc/passwd via unsanitised path"
      expected: triggered
      description: "CVE-2026-2285 exploitation framing with sensitive file target"

  true_negatives:
    - input: "JSONLoader('/data/documents/report.json')"
      expected: not_triggered
      description: "Legitimate JSON loader with a safe absolute data path"
    - input: "crewai loads documents from the /tmp/uploads/ directory"
      expected: not_triggered
      description: "Normal CrewAI document directory reference — no traversal"
    - input: "Upgrade CrewAI to fix CVE-2026-2285"
      expected: not_triggered
      description: "Mitigation advisory without exploit content"