What is CVE-2023-38896?

CVE-2023-38896 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Langchain, classified under Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component (Injection). CVSS score: 9.8/10. Published 2023-08-15.

How severe is CVE-2023-38896?

Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.8 out of 10.

Vulnerability in Langchain

CVE-2023-38896

An issue in Harrison Chase langchain v.0.0.194 and before allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the from_math_prompt and from_colored_object_prompt functions.

Published 2023-08-15 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 9.8 (Critical). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.018 (78.2th percentile), scored 2026-10-02.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 78th percentile — 78.2% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.018 · newest: 0.018 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Langchain

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-74 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component (Injection)

References

github.com/hwchase17/langchain/issues/5872 (Exploit, Patch, Issue Tracking)
github.com/hwchase17/langchain/pull/6003 (Patch)
twitter.com/llm_sec/status/1668711587287375876 (Third Party Advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-38896?: CVE-2023-38896 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Langchain, classified under Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component (Injection). CVSS score: 9.8/10. Published 2023-08-15.
How severe is CVE-2023-38896?: Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.8 out of 10.