Pickle serialization vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data
What
We are using pickle as default serialization module but that has known security issues (see e.g. https://medium.com/ochrona/python-pickle-is-notoriously-insecure-d6651f1974c9).
In summary, it is not advisable to open Pickles that you create yourself locally. In vantage6, algorithms use pickles to send aggregated data around and to pack algorithm input or output. All of the Python algorithms that use the wrappers with default serialization are therefore vulnerable to this issue.
Solution: we should use JSON instead
Impact
All users of vantage6 that post tasks with algorithms that use the default serialization. The default serialization is used by default with all algorithm wrappers.
Patches
Not yet
Workarounds
Specify JSON serialization
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | vantage6 | < 4.0.2 | 4.0.2 |
References
- https://medium.com/ochrona/python-pickle-is-notoriously-insecure-d6651f1974c9
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/security/advisories/GHSA-5m22-cfq9-86x6
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/blob/0682c4288f43fee5bcc72dc448cdd99bd7e57f76/docs/release_notes.rst#400
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6/commit/e62f03bacf2247bd59eed217e2e7338c3a01a5f0
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23930
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/vantage6/PYSEC-2023-196.yaml
- https://github.com/vantage6/vantage6
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-502- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
vantage6- Disclosed
- 11.10.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2023-196 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5m22-cfq9-86x6 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: vantage6
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 20
- First → latest
- 02.2023 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 1
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 5
- Medium 9
- Low 6
Disclosures per year
- 2023: 7
- 2024: 7
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 5
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Pickle serialization vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data this entry
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