Deserialization in Keras

CVE-2025-9906

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.

Vulnerability class: Insecure Deserialization

EPSS: 0.002 (8.5th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.3 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-9906?
CVE-2025-9906 is a high-severity vulnerability in Keras, classified under Deserialization of Untrusted Data. CVSS score: 7.3/10. Published 2025-09-19.
How severe is CVE-2025-9906?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.3 out of 10.
Is CVE-2025-9906 known to be exploited?
1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.