CVE-2026-44484Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Credential theft via import-time malicious payload

Published May 14, 2026 · Updated May 14, 2026

Embedded malicious code in Lightning AI PyTorch Lightning 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 allows attackers to steal credentials when imported. A tampered PyPI build starts a hidden thread from init.py, downloads Bun, and runs obfuscated JavaScript that harvests and exfiltrates cloud, browser, environment-file, and GitHub credentials. Exposure requires installing the PyPI-distributed build and importing the package; the upstream GitHub repository was not compromised.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Embedded malicious code in Lightning AI PyTorch Lightning 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 allows attackers to steal credentials when imported. A tampered PyPI build starts a hidden thread from init.py, downloads Bun, and runs obfuscated JavaScript that harvests and exfiltrates cloud, browser, environment-file, and GitHub credentials. Exposure requires installing the PyPI-distributed build and importing the package; the upstream GitHub repository was not compromised.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44484
Published
May 14, 2026
Updated
May 14, 2026
Vendor
Lightning AI
Product
PyTorch Lightning
Classifications
CWE-506, CWE-829, T1552.001, T1555, T1105, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 30, 2026Exploitation reportedCompromised PyPI releases distributed to users
  2. May 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. May 14, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=2.6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Lightning AI · PyTorch Lightningversion=2.6.2; version=2.6.3

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-506Embedded Malicious Code
CWE-829Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
T1552.001Credentials In Files
T1555Credentials from Password Stores
T1105Ingress Tool Transfer
T1059.007JavaScript/JScript

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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