GHSA-JHR6-GM9C-RQJV

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-31 21:31 – Updated: 2026-09-30 23:24
VLAI
Summary
sentence-transformers local model loading bypasses trust_remote_code and executes custom Python
Details

sentence-transformers contains a security control bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution by exploiting a logic flaw in the import_module_class helper within sentence_transformers/util/misc.py, where the guard condition includes an 'or os.path.exists(model_name_or_path)' clause that satisfies the trust gate whenever the supplied path exists on the local filesystem, regardless of the trust_remote_code=False argument. Attackers who can control or influence the contents of a model directory on disk can place malicious Python files such as modeling_*.py referenced via modules.json, causing the code to execute at import time when an application loads the model with SentenceTransformer(path, trust_remote_code=False), bypassing the documented security contract and achieving code execution within the loading process.

Severity
9.8 (Critical)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3 (Critical)
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "PyPI",
        "name": "sentence-transformers"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "5.6.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-68770"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-94"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-09-30T23:24:22Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-07-31T21:17:32Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "sentence-transformers contains a security control bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution by exploiting a logic flaw in the import_module_class helper within sentence_transformers/util/misc.py, where the guard condition includes an \u0027or os.path.exists(model_name_or_path)\u0027 clause that satisfies the trust gate whenever the supplied path exists on the local filesystem, regardless of the trust_remote_code=False argument. Attackers who can control or influence the contents of a model directory on disk can place malicious Python files such as modeling_*.py referenced via modules.json, causing the code to execute at import time when an application loads the model with SentenceTransformer(path, trust_remote_code=False), bypassing the documented security contract and achieving code execution within the loading process.",
  "id": "GHSA-jhr6-gm9c-rqjv",
  "modified": "2026-09-30T23:24:23Z",
  "published": "2026-07-31T21:31:59Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68770"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/issues/3801"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/pull/3807"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/pull/3935"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/commit/626eb602b088878a8173bcab69225f68411b99e1"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/commit/ae1acc3fb2aa2004577b297eb4a915ce7a03316a"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/releases/tag/v5.6.0"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/sentence-transformers/releases/tag/v6.0.0"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/sentence-transformers-arbitrary-code-execution-on-local-model-load-despite-trust-remote-code-false"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "sentence-transformers local model loading bypasses trust_remote_code and executes custom Python"
}



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