# CVE-2026-35581: Emissary has a Command Injection via PLACE_NAME Configuration in Executrix

> Attackers can execute arbitrary shell commands via the PLACE_NAME configuration parameter in the Executrix utility class.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6c37-7w4p-jg9v

## What is CVE-2026-35581?

CVE-2026-35581 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in NationalSecurityAgency emissary, published on 7 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Emissary is a P2P based data-driven workflow engine. Prior to 8.39.0, the Executrix utility class constructed shell commands by concatenating configuration-derived values — including the PLACE_NAME parameter — with insufficient sanitization. Only spaces were replaced with underscores, allowing shell metacharacters (;, |, $, `, (, ), etc.) to pass through into /bin/sh -c command execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.39.0.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-35581?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including gov.nsa.emissary:emissary. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `gov.nsa.emissary:emissary` | Maven | All versions | 8.39.0 |
| `gov.nsa.emissary:emissary` | Maven | All versions | 8.39.0 |

Products: Nsa Emissary.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-35581?

Upgrade gov.nsa.emissary:emissary to 8.39.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-35581 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-35581 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NationalSecurityAgency emissary

- [CVE-2026-35580](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35580/): Emissary has GitHub Actions Shell Injection via Workflow Inputs (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-35582](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35582/): Emissary has an OS Command Injection via Unvalidated IN_FILE_ENDING / OUT_FILE_ENDING in Executrix (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-32094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32094/): File upload in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-32096](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32096/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-32095](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32095/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-35581 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-35581 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in NationalSecurityAgency emissary, published on 7 Apr 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-35581 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- gov.nsa.emissary:emissary (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 8.39.0
- gov.nsa.emissary:emissary (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 8.39.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35581/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35581/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-35581
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35581
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35581

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35581/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.