CVE-2025-33233: NVIDIA Merlin Transformers4Rec · Code Injection
Affects NVIDIA Merlin Transformers4RecSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 14% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 Jan 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIAMerlin Transformers4Rec | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2025-33233, European organizations should immediately identify deployments of NVIDIA Merlin Transformers4Rec and verify if they are running versions prior to the commit 27ddd49. Applying the patch or updating to a version containing this commit is the most effective mitigation. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should restrict local access to systems running Transformers4Rec, enforce strict access controls, and monitor for unusual local activity. Implementing application whitelisting and integrity monitoring can help detect unauthorized code execution attempts. Additionally, auditing and sanitizing any inputs or data that could influence code generation within the application is critical to prevent injection. Organizations should also review and harden privilege management to limit the impact of potential escalation. Finally, maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence and preparing incident response plans specific to AI/ML infrastructure vulnerabilities will enhance resilience.
Description
CVE-2025-33233 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in NVIDIA Merlin Transformers4Rec affecting all versions prior to commit 27ddd49. It allows an attacker with local privileges and low complexity to execute arbitrary code without user interaction, potentially leading to privilege escalation, information disclosure, and data tampering. The vulnerability arises from improper control over code generation (CWE-94). Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. European organizations using Merlin Transformers4Rec in AI/ML recommendation systems should prioritize patching or mitigating this flaw. Countries with significant AI technology adoption and NVIDIA product usage, such as Germany, France, and the UK, are most at risk. Mitigation involves applying the fixed commit, restricting local access, and auditing code inputs. Given the CVSS 7.8 score, the threat is classified as high severity.