vLLM affected by RCE via auto_map dynamic module loading during model initialization

Description

Summary

vLLM loads Hugging Face auto_map dynamic modules during model resolution without gating on trust_remote_code, allowing attacker-controlled Python code in a model repo/path to execute at server startup.


Impact

An attacker who can influence the model repo/path (local directory or remote Hugging Face repo) can achieve arbitrary code execution on the vLLM host during model load.
This happens before any request handling and does not require API access.


Affected Versions

All versions where vllm/model_executor/models/registry.py resolves auto_map entries with try_get_class_from_dynamic_module without checking trust_remote_code (at least current main).


Details

During model resolution, vLLM unconditionally iterates auto_map entries from the model config and calls try_get_class_from_dynamic_module, which delegates to Transformers’ get_class_from_dynamic_module and executes the module code.

This occurs even when trust_remote_code is false, allowing a malicious model repo to embed code in a referenced module and have it executed during initialization.

Relevant code

  • vllm/model_executor/models/registry.py:856 — auto_map resolution
  • vllm/transformers_utils/dynamic_module.py:13 — delegates to get_class_from_dynamic_module, which executes code

Fixes

  • https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/pull/32194

Credits

Reported by bugbunny.ai

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
high
Advisory on GitHub
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Repository advisory
Open repository advisory ↗
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2026-01-21 16:12:54 UTC
Updated
2026-01-22 15:38:35 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2026-01-21 16:12:54 UTC
NVD published
2026-01-21

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.02% 6.05%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
8.8 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:R)
A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Credits

  • zaddy6 (reporter)
  • arthurgervais (reporter)
  • DarkLight1337 (remediation_developer)
  • russellb (coordinator)

Affected packages (1)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
pip vllm >= 0.10.1, < 0.14.0 0.14.0

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence