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Security Bulletin: Multiple Vulnerabilities in IBM watsonx Code Assistant On Prem

Security Bulletin


Summary

Multiple vulnerabilities were addressed in IBM watsonx Code Assistant On Prem V5.3.1 Patch 1

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:   CVE-2024-58340
DESCRIPTION:   LangChain versions up to and including 0.3.1 contain a regular expression denial-of-service (ReDoS) vulnerability in the MRKLOutputParser.parse() method (libs/langchain/langchain/agents/mrkl/output_parser.py). The parser applies a backtracking-prone regular expression when extracting tool actions from model output. An attacker who can supply or influence the parsed text (for example via prompt injection in downstream applications that pass LLM output directly into MRKLOutputParser.parse()) can trigger excessive CPU consumption by providing a crafted payload, causing significant parsing delays and a denial-of-service condition.
CWE:   CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
CVSS Source:   NVD
CVSS Base score:   7.5
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID:   CVE-2026-32597
DESCRIPTION:   PyJWT is a JSON Web Token implementation in Python. Prior to 2.12.0, PyJWT does not validate the crit (Critical) Header Parameter defined in RFC 7515 §4.1.11. When a JWS token contains a crit array listing extensions that PyJWT does not understand, the library accepts the token instead of rejecting it. This violates the MUST requirement in the RFC. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.12.0.
CWE:   CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
CVSS Source:   security-advisories@github.com
CVSS Base score:   7.5
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N)

CVEID:   CVE-2026-33036
DESCRIPTION:   fast-xml-parser allows users to process XML from JS object without C/C++ based libraries or callbacks. Versions 4.0.0-beta.3 through 5.5.5 contain a bypass vulnerability where numeric character references (&#NNN;, &#xHH;) and standard XML entities completely evade the entity expansion limits (e.g., maxTotalExpansions, maxExpandedLength) added to fix CVE-2026-26278, enabling XML entity expansion Denial of Service. The root cause is that replaceEntitiesValue() in OrderedObjParser.js only enforces expansion counting on DOCTYPE-defined entities while the lastEntities loop handling numeric/standard entities performs no counting at all. An attacker supplying 1M numeric entity references like A can force ~147MB of memory allocation and heavy CPU usage, potentially crashing the process—even when developers have configured strict limits. This issue has been fixed in version 5.5.6.
CWE:   CWE-776: Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs ('XML Entity Expansion')
CVSS Source:   security-advisories@github.com
CVSS Base score:   7.5
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID:   CVE-2026-4538
DESCRIPTION:   A vulnerability was identified in PyTorch 2.10.0. The affected element is an unknown function of the component pt2 Loading Handler. The manipulation leads to deserialization. The attack can only be performed from a local environment. The exploit is publicly available and might be used. The project was informed of the problem early through a pull request but has not reacted yet.
CWE:   CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
CVSS Source:   cna@vuldb.com
CVSS Base score:   5.3
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L)

CVEID:   CVE-2026-4539
DESCRIPTION:   A security flaw has been discovered in pygments up to 2.19.2. The impacted element is the function AdlLexer of the file pygments/lexers/archetype.py. The manipulation results in inefficient regular expression complexity. The attack is only possible with local access. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.
CWE:   CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
CVSS Source:   cna@vuldb.com
CVSS Base score:   3.3
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)

CVEID:   CVE-2026-33228
DESCRIPTION:   flatted is a circular JSON parser. Prior to version 3.4.2, the parse() function in flatted can use attacker-controlled string values from the parsed JSON as direct array index keys, without validating that they are numeric. Since the internal input buffer is a JavaScript Array, accessing it with the key "__proto__" returns Array.prototype via the inherited getter. This object is then treated as a legitimate parsed value and assigned as a property of the output object, effectively leaking a live reference to Array.prototype to the consumer. Any code that subsequently writes to that property will pollute the global prototype. This issue has been patched in version 3.4.2.
CWE:   CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
CVSS Source:   NVD
CVSS Base score:   9.8
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Affected Product(s)Version(s)
watsonx Code Assistant On Prem5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3, 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.3.0, 5.3.1

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now by upgrading to the latest IBM watsonx Code Assistant on Prem Extension to V 5.3.1 Patch 1

We recommend reviewing the documentation for guidance on installing Watsonx Code Assistant on Cloud Pak for Data (CPD).

Workarounds and Mitigations

None

Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins

References

Off

Acknowledgement

Change History

09 Apr 2026: Initial Publication

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer

According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.

Document Location

Worldwide

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Document Information

Modified date:
09 April 2026

Initial Publish date:
09 April 2026

UID

ibm17269018