CVE-2026-1669
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to read arbitrary local files on systems running vulnerable Keras versions by exploiting a flaw in the HDF5 model loading mechanism. Attackers can craft malicious .keras model files containing external dataset references to access sensitive information. All users of Keras versions 3.0.0 through 3.13.1 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Keras
📦 What is this software?
Keras by Keras
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise through credential theft, sensitive data exfiltration, and lateral movement by reading SSH keys, configuration files, and other critical system files.
Likely Case
Disclosure of sensitive application data, configuration files, and potentially credentials stored in accessible file paths.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper file permissions, network segmentation, and input validation preventing malicious model uploads.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires the attacker to craft a malicious .keras file with HDF5 external dataset references and have it loaded by the vulnerable system.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Keras 3.14.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/google/security-research/security/advisories
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Keras to version 3.14.0 or later using pip: 'pip install --upgrade keras>=3.14.0' 2. Verify the update completed successfully. 3. Test model loading functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable HDF5 model loading
allDisable loading of HDF5-based .keras model files if not required
Configure application to reject .keras files or implement custom model loading validation
Input validation and sandboxing
allValidate and sanitize all model file inputs before processing
Implement file type validation, size limits, and run model loading in restricted environments
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file upload controls and only allow trusted model sources
- Apply principle of least privilege to file system access and run Keras with minimal permissions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Keras version: 'python -c "import keras; print(keras.__version__)"' - if version is between 3.0.0 and 3.13.1 inclusive, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
python -c "import keras; print(keras.__version__)"Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify version is 3.14.0 or later using same command and test loading model files.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed model loading attempts
- Unusual file access patterns from Keras processes
- Errors related to HDF5 external dataset resolution
Network Indicators:
- Uploads of .keras model files to vulnerable endpoints
- Outbound data transfers following model file processing
SIEM Query:
source="keras" AND (event="model_load" OR event="file_access") AND (file_path="*" OR error="*external dataset*")