Code execution via unsafe checkpoint deserialization
Published Aug 13, 2025 · Updated Aug 13, 2025
Code injection in NVIDIA Transformers4Rec allows local users to execute arbitrary code through a malicious model checkpoint. The load_model_trainer_states_from_checkpoint function passes t4rec_model_class.pkl to unrestricted cloudpickle.load, permitting pickle reducers to invoke attacker-chosen operations. Exploitation requires an attacker-supplied checkpoint to be loaded; code runs as the target process and gains elevated privileges only when that process is privileged.
Summary
What happened
Code injection in NVIDIA Transformers4Rec allows local users to execute arbitrary code through a malicious model checkpoint. The load_model_trainer_states_from_checkpoint function passes t4rec_model_class.pkl to unrestricted cloudpickle.load, permitting pickle reducers to invoke attacker-chosen operations. Exploitation requires an attacker-supplied checkpoint to be loaded; code runs as the target process and gains elevated privileges only when that process is privileged.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-23298
- Published
- Aug 13, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 13, 2025
- Vendor
- DPDK Project
- Product
- Transformers4Rec
- Classifications
- CWE-94, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 13, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 13, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=All versions that do not include code commit b7eaea5
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Malicious model-checkpoint proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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