CVE-2026-31214
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe torch-checkpoint-shrink.py script in the ml-engineering project in commit 0099885db36a8f06556efe1faf552518852cb1e0 (2025-20-27) contains an insecure deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502). The script uses torch.load() to process PyTorch checkpoint files (.pt) without enabling the security-restrictive weights_only=True parameter. This oversight allows the deserialization of arbitrary Python objects via the pickle module. A remote attacker can exploit this by providing a maliciously crafted checkpoint file, leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running the script.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceThe ml-engineering project's torch-checkpoint-shrink.py script uses torch.load() to deserialize PyTorch checkpoint files without the weights_only=True parameter, allowing arbitrary pickle deserialization and remote code execution via malicious checkpoint files.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
-
Locate the torch-checkpoint-shrink.py scriptSearch for the file named 'torch-checkpoint-shrink.py' in your ml-engineering project directory or Python environmentAffected if The script exists in your environment and is used to load PyTorch checkpoint files
-
Inspect torch.load() calls for weights_only parameterOpen the script and search for torch.load() function calls. Examine each call's parameters to determine if weights_only=True is presentAffected if The script contains torch.load() calls without weights_only=True or with weights_only=False
-
Verify the script is executable or importedCheck if the script has been executed, imported as a module, or is part of an automated pipeline that processes checkpoint filesAffected if The script is actively used or accessible to users/systems that could supply malicious checkpoint files
-
Confirm checkpoint file handling behaviorReview whether the script accepts checkpoint file paths from user input, external sources, or untrusted locationsAffected if The script loads checkpoint files from sources that could be controlled by untrusted parties
You are affected if the torch-checkpoint-shrink.py script exists in your environment and contains torch.load() calls without weights_only=True, especially when processing untrusted checkpoint files.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataAdd weights_only=True to torch.load() calls; if custom objects must be loaded, implement a proper allowlist or use torch.serialization.safe_globals() with explicit validation of expected classes.
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation2.0 h
- Testing4.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $2,752.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2026-31214 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2026-31214 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.
A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.
- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data