CVE-2026-4538: PyTorch · Deserialization
Affects PyTorchSource CVE Database V5
Public exploit available · CVSS 4.8 Medium.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 11:52 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 15% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:PExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Mar 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
CVSS exploit maturity: proof of concept public
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), CVSS vector, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2026-4538, organizations should implement strict local access controls to limit who can execute or interact with PyTorch 2.10.0 environments. Employ role-based access controls (RBAC) and enforce the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of exploitation by low-privilege users. Monitor system logs and PyTorch loading activities for unusual deserialization behavior or errors that could indicate exploitation attempts. Use containerization or sandboxing to isolate PyTorch workloads, minimizing the impact of any successful exploit. Until an official patch is released, consider downgrading to a previous PyTorch version not affected by this vulnerability or upgrading to a newer version if available. Engage with the PyTorch community and maintain awareness of updates or patches addressing this issue. Additionally, conduct internal audits to identify environments where untrusted local users have access and apply compensating controls such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect suspicious activities related to deserialization.
Description
CVE-2026-4538 is a medium-severity deserialization vulnerability affecting PyTorch version 2.10.0, specifically in the pt2 Loading Handler component. The flaw allows an attacker with local access and low privileges to manipulate deserialization processes, potentially leading to limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. Exploitation does not require user interaction, and a public exploit exists, although no known attacks in the wild have been reported. The vulnerability is constrained to local environments, reducing remote exploitation risk. PyTorch maintainers have been informed but have not yet released a patch. Organizations using PyTorch 2.10.0 should be cautious, especially in environments where untrusted local users have access.