CVE-2026-16760
Description
A flaw was found in fickling. This flaw allows arbitrary code execution when an application processes untrusted serialized data. Because fickling inherently trusts unblocked standard library functions without verifying their actual behavior, it fails to identify dangerous calls within serialized files. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by providing a specially crafted pickle payload that bypasses security checks, executing commands or modifying files with the privileges of the running application.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as having an Important impact because successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution within the context of the running workload if malicious serialized data is processed. Within Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI), fickling is provided in specialized container images to analyze and validate pickle-formatted machine learning models. The flaw poses a risk when services or workflows rely on fickling as a defensive gate before deserialization, as unverified callables from the standard library can slip past inspection and trigger payload execution. The impact is contained within the permissions of the executing container process, requiring that an untrusted file be ingested.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 7.8 | N/A | 8.8 |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | Required | N/A | Required |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Application Data; Unexpected State
Attackers can modify unexpected objects or data that was assumed to be safe from modification. Deserialized data or code could be modified without using the provided accessor functions, or unexpected functions could be invoked.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
If a function is making an assumption on when to terminate, based on a sentry in a string, it could easily never terminate.
Other
Technical Impact: Varies by Context
The consequences can vary widely, because it depends on which objects or methods are being deserialized, and how they are used. Making an assumption that the code in the deserialized object is valid is dangerous and can enable exploitation. One example is attackers using gadget chains to perform unauthorized actions, such as generating a shell.
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