# CVE-2025-50461: Deserialization in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into loading malicious model files in the Volcengine verl library's model merger script.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xhf5-3r9v-mm67

## What is CVE-2025-50461?

CVE-2025-50461 is a medium-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 19 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A deserialization vulnerability exists in Volcengine's verl 3.0.0, specifically in the scripts/model_merger.py script when using the "fsdp" backend. The script calls torch.load() with weights_only=False on user-supplied .pt files, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code if a maliciously crafted model file is loaded. An attacker can exploit this by convincing a victim to download and place a malicious model file in a local directory with a specific filename pattern. This vulnerability may lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the script.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-50461?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-50461?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-50461 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-50461 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-50461 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Technical Details and Exploit for CVE-2025-50461 (github_poc): https://github.com/Anchor0221/CVE-2025-50461

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-50461 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-50461 is a medium-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 19 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-50461 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-50461/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-50461/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-50461
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-50461
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-50461

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-50461/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.