CVE-2026-42086

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. From 5.1.0 until 7.3.0, authenticated non-administrator users can write content under targets_modified/ that is later executed by multiple configuration paths below the intended code-execution privilege tier. Table and command or telemetry definitions are processed through ConfigParser, PacketConfig, GENERIC_READ_CONVERSION, or GENERIC_WRITE_CONVERSION, allowing ERB rendering or Ruby and Python evaluation, while openc3-cosmos-script-runner-api/scripts/run_suite_analysis.rb executes suite procedure files through require. Storage uploads, screen saves, and script creation can place content in the overlay, and triggering table processing, a cmd/tlm reload, or suite analysis executes the content in cmd-tlm-api, decom microservices, or Script Runner with access to internal credentials and data. This issue is fixed in version 7.3.0.

OpenC3 COSMOS prior to version 7.0.0-rc3 allows users to execute Python and Ruby scripts from the openc3-COSMOS-script-runner-api container. This enables bypassing API permissions checks and performing administrative actions, including modifying data in the Redis database.

In OpenC3 COSMOS from 5.12.0 until 7.3.0, an authenticated actor can write the pypi_url setting through set_setting at POST /openc3-api/api, then cause OpenC3::PluginModel.install_phase2 to interpolate the value into a shell command while installing a plugin with Python dependency metadata. Shell metacharacters in the setting are interpreted by the command shell, allowing arbitrary operating-system commands to run as the openc3 service user with access to Redis and bucket credentials.

In OpenC3 COSMOS from 5.0.6 until 7.3.0, an authenticated actor with system_set permission can store a shared screen through POST /openc3-api/screen whose BUTTON widget action is evaluated in another operator's browser session when the button is activated. The stored script runs in the COSMOS origin and can read localStorage.openc3Token, allowing theft of the victim's bearer token, account takeover, and actions with the victim's privileges.

OpenC3 COSMOS prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3 contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although standard path traversal attacks are mitigated, all plugins share the same root directory, enabling users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files.

OpenC3 COSMOS prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3 allowed users to change their password without providing the old password, accepting only a valid session token. This behavior can be exploited by an attacker who has a valid session token to hijack accounts and block legitimate users from accessing their accounts.