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 .keras model archive that, when loaded via Model.load_model, will trigger arbitrary code to be executed. This is achieved by crafting a special config.json (a file within the .keras archive) that will invoke keras.config.enable_unsafe_deserialization() to disable safe mode. Once safe mode is disable, one can use the Lambda layer feature of keras, which allows arbitrary Python code in the form of pickled code. Both can appear in the same archive. Simply the keras.config.enable_unsafe_deserialization() needs to appear first in the archive and the Lambda with arbitrary code needs to be second.
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

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 .keras model archive that, when loaded via Model.load_model, will trigger arbitrary code to be executed. This is achieved by crafting a special config.json (a file within the .keras archive) that will invoke keras.config.enable_unsafe_deserialization() to disable safe mode. Once safe mode is disable, one can use the Lambda layer feature of keras, which allows arbitrary Python code in the form of pickled code. Both can appear in the same archive. Simply the keras.config.enable_unsafe_deserialization() needs to appear first in the archive and the Lambda with arbitrary code needs to be second.
Title Arbitrary Code execution in Keras Safe Mode
Weaknesses CWE-502
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/AU:Y/R:A'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Google

Published:

Updated: 2025-09-19T08:15:04.349Z

Reserved: 2025-09-03T07:27:23.895Z

Link: CVE-2025-9906

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2025-09-19T09:15:36.353

Modified: 2025-09-19T09:15:36.353

Link: CVE-2025-9906

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.