CVE-2026-4538Public exploit

Local code execution via unsafe pt2 deserialization

Published Mar 22, 2026 · Updated Mar 22, 2026

Unsafe deserialization in PyTorch 2.10.0 allows local users to execute code by loading a crafted .pt2 model archive. The torch.export.load path trusts use_pickle in model_weights_config.json, and deserialize_torch_artifact can fall back to pickle with weights_only disabled. Reachability requires an application to pass an attacker-controlled archive to the loader, after which pickle reducers execute with the process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe deserialization in PyTorch 2.10.0 allows local users to execute code by loading a crafted .pt2 model archive. The torch.export.load path trusts use_pickle in model_weights_config.json, and deserialize_torch_artifact can fall back to pickle with weights_only disabled. Reachability requires an application to pass an attacker-controlled archive to the loader, after which pickle reducers execute with the process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-4538
Published
Mar 22, 2026
Updated
Mar 22, 2026
Vendor
PyTorch
Product
PyTorch
Classifications
CWE-20, CWE-502, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 22, 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=2.10.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PyTorch · PyTorchversion=2.10.0

Published CVSS scores

5.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
4.3VulDBAV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1.9VulDBCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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