Local privilege escalation via HDF5 plugin loading
Published Feb 20, 2026 · Updated Feb 20, 2026
Uncontrolled plugin search in Google TensorFlow 2.17.0 allows local users to execute code as a target user through HDF5 plugin loading. TensorFlow's Keras HDF5 modules import h5py without first setting HDF5_PLUGIN_PATH to disable HDF5's default external-plugin search locations. Low-privileged code execution is required, and a planted plugin runs when a higher-privileged target imports the affected path.
Summary
What happened
Uncontrolled plugin search in Google TensorFlow 2.17.0 allows local users to execute code as a target user through HDF5 plugin loading. TensorFlow's Keras HDF5 modules import h5py without first setting HDF5_PLUGIN_PATH to disable HDF5's default external-plugin search locations. Low-privileged code execution is required, and a planted plugin runs when a higher-privileged target imports the affected path.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-2492
- Published
- Feb 20, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 20, 2026
- Vendor
- Go standard library
- Product
- TensorFlow
- Classifications
- CWE-427, CAPEC-38, CAPEC-471, T1574
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 20, 2026Record 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=2.17.0
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
Your stack
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Your stack
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