Keras: Lambda deserialization can bypass safe mode and execute code
High8.8CVE-2026-12481 · Published Jul 3, 2026 · updated Aug 10, 2026
A vulnerability in keras-team/keras version 3.14.0 allows for arbitrary code execution due to improper handling of deserialization in the `Lambda` layer. Specifically, the `_raise_for_lambda_deserialization()` function fails to enforce the safe-mode guard when `safe_mode` is set to `None`, which is the default value when `from_config()` is called outside of a `SafeModeScope` context. This logic error conflates `None` (unset/default-deny) with `False` (explicitly disabled), bypassing the guard and allowing attacker-controlled `marshal` bytecode to be deserialized. Affected call sites include `keras.layers.deserialize(config)`, `keras.models.clone_model(model)`, and any direct invocation of `Lambda.from_config(config)` without an enclosing `SafeModeScope(True)`. This vulnerability can be exploited to achieve arbitrary OS-level code execution in the context of the server or user process.
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| keras PyPI | < 3.12.3 | 3.12.3 |
| >= 3.13.0, < 3.15.0 | 3.15.0 |
Details and references
- CVSS 3.0
- CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-502
- Also known as
- CVE-2026-12481, PYSEC-2026-3631
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12481
- github.com/keras-team/keras/pull/23048
- github.com/keras-team/keras/pull/23165
- github.com/keras-team/keras/commit/55888d3becbdbb45dc16a55b489900f911e2dde5
- github.com/keras-team/keras/commit/d338a45204bdc787c8b3c4a9b82c1911cd52dedf
- github.com/keras-team/keras
- github.com/keras-team/keras/releases/tag/v3.12.3
- github.com/keras-team/keras/releases/tag/v3.15.0
- huntr.com/bounties/59ceaed1-c8a3-4135-8f94-169ade02823d
More Keras advisories
All Keras| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2 | Keras: HDF5 links can disclose local file contents | Medium6.5 | 3.12.3+1 more |
| Jul 19 | Keras: TorchModuleWrapper can deserialize unsafe PyTorch pickle data | High7.8 | 3.12.3+1 more |
| Jul 14 | Keras: tar extraction permits symlink-based path traversal | Low3.1 | 3.12.3+1 more |
| Jul 1 | Keras: HDF5 virtual datasets can disclose local files | Medium5.5 | 3.12.3+1 more |
| Jun 22 | Keras: DiskIOStore permits path traversal through crafted layer names | Medium6.1 | 3.12.3+1 more |
| Jun 11 | Keras archive extraction utilities allow path traversal and arbitrary file writes | High8.1 | 3.14.0 |