HuggingFace transformers vulnerable to remote code execution
A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in all versions of the HuggingFace transformers library prior to version 5.3.0. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malicious config.json file containing the _attn_implementation_internal field set to an attacker-controlled HuggingFace Hub repository ID. When a victim loads this model using the standard AutoModelForCausalLM.from_pretrained() API, the library downloads and executes arbitrary Python code from the attacker's repository with the victim's full OS privileges. This issue arises due to unfiltered deserialization of configuration attributes, insufficient sanitization of internal fields, and unsandboxed execution of downloaded kernels. The vulnerability bypasses the trust_remote_code security mechanism, is invisible to the victim, and exploits the standard documented usage pattern, making it particularly severe. Users are advised to upgrade to version 5.3.0 or later to mitigate this issue.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | transformers | < 5.3.0 | 5.3.0 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-1066, CWE-502- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
transformers- Disclosed
- 24.05.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-2289 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-29pf-2h5f-8g72 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: transformers
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 32
- First → latest
- 05.2023 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 9
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 18
- Medium 12
- Low 2
Disclosures per year
- 2023: 3
- 2024: 4
- 2025: 20
- 2026: 5
-
HuggingFace transformers vulnerable to remote code execution this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.