CVE-2024-5452 RCE via Property/Class Pollution in lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning
Attackers can achieve remote code execution on self-hosted PyTorch Lightning applications by exploiting deserialization flaws in the default delta endpoint.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2024-5452?
CVE-2024-5452 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning, published on 6 Jun 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability exists in the lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning library version 2.2.1 due to improper handling of deserialized user input and mismanagement of dunder attributes by the `deepdiff` library. The library uses `deepdiff.Delta` objects to modify application state based on frontend actions. However, it is possible to bypass the intended restrictions on modifying dunder attributes, allowing an attacker to construct a serialized delta that passes the deserializer whitelist and contains dunder attributes. When processed, this can be exploited to access other modules, classes, and instances, leading to arbitrary attribute write and total RCE on any self-hosted pytorch-lightning application in its default configuration, as the delta endpoint is enabled by default.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-5452?
4 open source packages ship an affected version, including lightning and pytorch-lightning. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
lightning PyPI | All versions | 2.3.3 |
lightning PyPI | All versions | 2.3.3 |
lightning PyPI | All versions | 2.3.3 |
pytorch-lightning PyPI | All versions | 2.3.3 |
Products include Lightningai Pytorch Lightning.
How do I fix CVE-2024-5452?
Upgrade lightning to 2.3.3 or later.
Upgrade, and only deserialise data from trusted sources or with an allow-list of types. More about Unsafe deserialization.
Is CVE-2024-5452 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-5452 exists.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning
- CVE-2026-44484 Compromise of PyTorch Lightning PyPi Package Versions
- CVE-2024-8019 Arbitrary File Write/Overwrite in lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning
- CVE-2024-5980 Arbitrary File Write via /v1/runs API endpoint in lightning-ai/pytorch-lightning
- CVE-2026-31221 PyTorch Lightning load_from_checkpoint has an insecure checkpoint deserialization
- CVE-2026-58659 PyTorch Lightning Arbitrary Code Execution via _instantiator Hyperparameter
Sources
Also known as GHSA-cgwc-qvrx-rf7f, PYSEC-2026-385, PYSEC-2026-3974.