GitHub Advisoryadvisory · PyPI

GHSA-fqq6-7vqf-w3fg Picklescan is missing detection when calling built-in python doctest.debug_script

MEDIUM Published 2025-08-26 Modified 2025-08-26 Official page ↗
Ecosystem
PyPI
Packages
picklescan
Severity
Moderate
Reviewed
2025-08-26

Affected packages

• PyPI picklescan: < 0.0.30 → fixed in 0.0.30

Description

Summary Using doctest.debug_script function, which is a built-in python library function to execute remote pickle file. Details The attack payload executes in the following steps: First, the attacker craft the payload by calling to doctest.debug_script function in reduce method Then when the victim after checking whether the pickle file is safe by using Picklescan library and this library doesn't dectect any dangerous functions, decide to pickle.load() this malicious pickle file, thus lead to remote code execution. PoC ``` from doctest import debug_script class EvilDoctestDebugScript: def __reduce__(self): # debug_script(src, pm=True) -> exec(src, ...) return debug_script, ("__import__('os').system('whoami')", True) ``` Impact Who is impacted? Any organization or individual relying on picklescan to detect malicious pickle files inside PyTorch models. What is the impact? Attackers can embed malicious code in pickle file that remains undetected but executes when the pickle file is loaded. Supply Chain Attack: Attackers can distribute infected pickle files across ML models, APIs, or saved Python objects. Corresponding https://github.com/FredericDT https://github.com/Qhaoduoyu

References