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.
History

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:keras:keras:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


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

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


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

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Google

Published: 2025-09-19T08:16:44.772Z

Updated: 2025-09-20T03:55:40.926Z

Reserved: 2025-09-03T07:27:18.212Z

Link: CVE-2025-9905

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-09-19T11:48:23.572Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2025-09-19T09:15:36.033

Modified: 2025-09-23T16:53:40.050

Link: CVE-2025-9905

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2025-09-19T08:16:44Z

Links: CVE-2025-9905 - Bugzilla