CVE-2025-51427: ModelScope 1.25.0 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-51427 Overview

CVE-2025-51427 is an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in ModelScope 1.25.0, an open-source platform for machine learning models. Attackers can execute arbitrary code by supplying a crafted module name under the ['nnet']['module'] key in the dey_mini.yaml configuration file. The flaw is classified as code injection [CWE-94] and stems from unsafe dynamic module loading driven by attacker-controlled configuration input.

Critical Impact

Attackers who can influence the dey_mini.yaml configuration file can load arbitrary Python modules and execute code within the ModelScope process context.

Affected Products

• ModelScope 1.25.0
• Workflows that consume dey_mini.yaml configuration files
• Downstream applications embedding the affected ModelScope version

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-19 - CVE CVE-2025-51427 published to NVD
• 2026-05-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-51427

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability lives in ModelScope's configuration-driven model loading path. ModelScope reads dey_mini.yaml and resolves the value of the ['nnet']['module'] key to import a Python module at runtime. The framework does not validate or constrain that value against an allowlist of trusted modules. When the resolved module is imported, any top-level code in that module executes inside the ModelScope process.

This behavior maps to CWE-94, Improper Control of Generation of Code. The exploit is purely data-driven: no binary memory corruption is required. An attacker who controls the YAML file, a shared model package, or a model repository entry can plant a malicious Python module reference and trigger execution on every system that loads it.

The network attack vector reflects realistic distribution paths for ModelScope assets, including pulling model bundles and configurations from remote repositories or registries.

Root Cause

The root cause is unsafe dynamic dispatch driven by untrusted configuration. ModelScope treats the module field as a trusted import target and uses Python's import machinery to load it. Because import side effects run arbitrary code, control of the field is equivalent to control of execution. The patch discussion in GitHub Pull Request #1333 addresses how the module reference is resolved and validated.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers a crafted dey_mini.yaml to a victim, for example by publishing a tampered model package or modifying a shared configuration. When ModelScope 1.25.0 loads the configuration, it imports the attacker-specified module, executing the embedded payload with the privileges of the loading process. See the GitHub CVE-2025-51427 Disclosure and GitHub Issue #1331 Discussion for additional context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-51427

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected entries under ['nnet']['module'] in dey_mini.yaml referencing non-standard module paths.
• Python processes spawning unusual child processes, network connections, or file writes during model load.
• New or modified .py files inside ModelScope cache, model, or working directories.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect all dey_mini.yaml files on systems running ModelScope and compare module references against a known-good allowlist.
• Audit model download sources and verify integrity of model bundles obtained from third-party repositories.
• Hunt for Python interpreter invocations that import modules from non-standard or world-writable paths during ModelScope workflows.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Log and alert on writes to ModelScope configuration files, especially dey_mini.yaml.
• Monitor outbound connections from machine learning training and inference hosts for anomalous destinations.
• Track process lineage from python and ModelScope CLI entry points to detect post-load command execution.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-51427

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade ModelScope past version 1.25.0 once a fixed release that incorporates GitHub Pull Request #1333 is available.
• Treat all dey_mini.yaml files from untrusted sources as untrusted code and review them before loading.
• Restrict write access to ModelScope configuration directories to trusted users only.

Patch Information

Upstream remediation is tracked in GitHub Pull Request #1333 and GitHub Issue #1331 Discussion. Apply the corresponding upstream fix or upgrade to a patched ModelScope release. Verify that the deployed version no longer resolves arbitrary module names from the ['nnet']['module'] key without validation.

Workarounds

• Pin ModelScope workflows to vetted, version-controlled configuration files and reject runtime overrides.
• Run ModelScope inside a sandboxed or containerized environment with no outbound network access where feasible.
• Implement an allowlist of permitted module paths and reject any dey_mini.yaml referencing modules outside that list.

# Configuration example: validate dey_mini.yaml before loading
grep -E "^\s*module:" dey_mini.yaml | grep -vF -f allowed_modules.txt && \
  echo "Untrusted module reference detected - aborting load" && exit 1