Picklescan is vulnerable to RCE via missing detection when calling numpy.f2py.crackfortran.param_eval
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-502.
Summary
### Summary Picklescan uses numpy.f2py.crackfortran.param_eval, which is a function in numpy to execute remote pickle files. ### Details The attack payload executes in the following steps: - First, the attacker crafts the payload by calling the numpy.f2py.crackfortran.param_eval function via reduce method. - Then, when the victim checks whether the pickle file is safe by using the Picklescan library and this library doesn't detect any dangerous functions, they decide to use pickle.load() on this malicious pickle file, thus leading to remote code execution. ### PoC ``` class RCE: def __reduce__(self): from numpy.f2py.crackfortran import param_eval return (param_eval,("os.system('ls')",None,None,None)) ``` ### Impact Any organization or individual relying on picklescan to detect malicious pickle files inside PyTorch models. Attackers can embed malicious code in pickle file that remains undetected but executes when the pickle file is loaded. Attackers can distribute infected pickle files across ML models, APIs, or saved Python objects. ### Report by Pinji Chen ([email protected]) from the NISL lab (https://netsec.ccert.edu.cn/about) at Tsinghua University, Guanheng Liu ([email protected]).
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | picklescan (PyPI) | before 0.0.33 | 0.0.33 | Patch available | GHSA-cffc-mxrf-mhh4 |
- picklescan (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 0.0.33 Fixed in 0.0.33 Patch available GHSA-cffc-mxrf-mhh4
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-cffc-mxrf-mhh4 picklescan (PyPI) Fixed in 0.0.33 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-cffc-mxrf-mhh4
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/security/advisories/GHSA-cffc-mxrf-mhh4
- https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/pull/53
- https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/commit/70c1c6c31beb6baaf52c8db1b6c3c0e84a6f9dab
- https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan
- https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/releases/tag/v0.0.33
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences