# CVE-2026-6859: Instructlab: instructlab: arbitrary code execution due to hardcoded `trust_remote_code=true`

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into loading malicious models due to hardcoded trust_remote_code setting in InstructLab.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 15 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rxpq-xgqx-fr7p, PYSEC-2026-2522

## What is CVE-2026-6859?

CVE-2026-6859 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, published on 22 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A flaw was found in InstructLab. The `linux_train.py` script hardcodes `trust_remote_code=True` when loading models from HuggingFace. This allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary Python code execution by convincing a user to run `ilab train/download/generate` with a specially crafted malicious model from the HuggingFace Hub. This vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise.

Weakness: CWE-829 (Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-6859?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including instructlab. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `instructlab` | PyPI | All versions to 0.26.1 | None |
| `instructlab` | PyPI | All versions to 0.26.1 | None |
| `instructlab` | PyPI | All versions to 0.26.1 | None |

Products: Redhat Enterprise Linux Ai, Redhat Instructlab.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-6859?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-6859 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-6859 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-6859 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3

- [CVE-2026-6855](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6855/): Instructlab: instructlab: path traversal allows arbitrary directory creation and file write (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-6859 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-6859 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, published on 22 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-6859 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- instructlab (PyPI): affected all versions up to 0.26.1; no fix listed
- instructlab (PyPI): affected all versions up to 0.26.1; no fix listed
- instructlab (PyPI): affected all versions up to 0.26.1; no fix listed

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-2026-6859/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6859/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-6859
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6859
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-6859

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6859/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.