One can create a specially crafted .h5/.hdf5 model archive that, when loaded via Model.load_model, will trigger arbitrary code to be executed.
This is achieved by crafting a special .h5 archive file that uses the Lambda layer feature of keras which allows arbitrary Python code in the form of pickled code. The vulnerability comes from the fact that the safe_mode=True option is not honored when reading .h5 archives.
Note that the .h5/.hdf5 format is a legacy format supported by Keras 3 for backwards compatibility.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
| Source | ID | Title | 
|---|---|---|
|  EUVD | EUVD-2025-30277 | The Keras Model.load_model method can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution, even with safe_mode=True. One can create a specially crafted .h5/.hdf5 model archive that, when loaded via Model.load_model, will trigger arbitrary code to be executed. This is achieved by crafting a special .h5 archive file that uses the Lambda layer feature of keras which allows arbitrary Python code in the form of pickled code. The vulnerability comes from the fact that the safe_mode=True option is not honored when reading .h5 archives. Note that the .h5/.hdf5 format is a legacy format supported by Keras 3 for backwards compatibility. | 
|  Github GHSA | GHSA-36rr-ww3j-vrjv | The Keras `Model.load_model` method **silently** ignores `safe_mode=True` and allows arbitrary code execution when a `.h5`/`.hdf5` file is loaded. | 
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:a:keras:keras:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Metrics | cvssV3_1 
 | cvssV3_1 
 | 
Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared | Keras Keras keras | |
| Vendors & Products | Keras Keras keras | 
Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| References |  | |
| Metrics | threat_severity 
 | cvssV3_1 
 
 | 
Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| Metrics | ssvc 
 | 
Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added | 
|---|---|---|
| Description | The Keras Model.load_model method can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution, even with safe_mode=True. One can create a specially crafted .h5/.hdf5 model archive that, when loaded via Model.load_model, will trigger arbitrary code to be executed. This is achieved by crafting a special .h5 archive file that uses the Lambda layer feature of keras which allows arbitrary Python code in the form of pickled code. The vulnerability comes from the fact that the safe_mode=True option is not honored when reading .h5 archives. Note that the .h5/.hdf5 format is a legacy format supported by Keras 3 for backwards compatibility. | |
| Title | Arbitary Code execution in Keras load_model() | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-913 | |
| References |  | |
| Metrics | cvssV4_0 
 | 
 MITRE
                        MITRE
                    Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Google
Published:
Updated: 2025-09-20T03:55:40.926Z
Reserved: 2025-09-03T07:27:18.212Z
Link: CVE-2025-9905
 Vulnrichment
                        Vulnrichment
                    Updated: 2025-09-19T11:48:23.572Z
 NVD
                        NVD
                    Status : Analyzed
Published: 2025-09-19T09:15:36.033
Modified: 2025-09-23T16:53:40.050
Link: CVE-2025-9905
 Redhat
                        Redhat
                     OpenCVE Enrichment
                        OpenCVE Enrichment
                    Updated: 2025-09-22T10:06:31Z