Code execution via unrestricted PyTorch checkpoint loading
Published Dec 23, 2025 · Updated Dec 23, 2025
Unsafe checkpoint deserialization in Tencent TFace allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted model file. The generation/uiface restore_checkpoint function passes model.ckpt and optimization.ckpt to torch.load without weights_only=True, enabling unrestricted object reconstruction. Exploitation requires a user to open the file or visit attacker-controlled content; code runs with the TFace process's privileges, reported as root.
Summary
What happened
Unsafe checkpoint deserialization in Tencent TFace allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted model file. The generation/uiface restore_checkpoint function passes model.ckpt and optimization.ckpt to torch.load without weights_only=True, enabling unrestricted object reconstruction. Exploitation requires a user to open the file or visit attacker-controlled content; code runs with the TFace process's privileges, reported as root.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-13709
- Published
- Dec 23, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Tencent
- Product
- TFace
- Classifications
- CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 23, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=Current
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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Your stack
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