CVE-2026-24228: NVIDIA NeMo Deserialization Code Execution Vulnerability

Technical summary

CVE-2026-24228 is an unsafe deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502) in NVIDIA NeMo Framework for Linux. The vulnerability exists because the framework deserializes untrusted data without proper validation or integrity checks. An attacker with local access can exploit this by providing malicious serialized objects that execute arbitrary code during the deserialization process. The local privilege requirement and absence of user interaction make this a practical concern in multi-tenant or development environments where hostile users or compromised accounts may exist.

Business impact

Exploitation of this vulnerability in production environments running NeMo could result in unauthorized code execution with the privileges of the application's runtime user. In development or research environments, this could lead to loss of intellectual property (model theft or modification), unauthorized access to training data, and lateral movement to other systems. Organizations using NeMo for machine learning operations should assess whether untrusted users or code can reach vulnerable instances.

Affected systems

NVIDIA NeMo Framework running on Linux systems is affected. The specific versions vulnerable to this deserialization flaw have not been detailed in available advisories. Organizations should consult NVIDIA's official security advisory for NeMo to identify which versions contain the fix and confirm their deployment scope.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires local access with standard user privileges, making it feasible in shared computing environments, CI/CD pipelines, or scenarios where code from untrusted sources is processed. No user interaction is required once the attacker can supply input to the deserialization function. The attack surface depends on how NeMo is deployed—if it processes model files or configurations from external sources without access controls, risk increases significantly.

Remediation

Update NVIDIA NeMo Framework to a patched version addressing CWE-502. Verify the fix against NVIDIA's official security advisory, which will specify the minimum patched version. Additionally, implement input validation and restrict deserialization to trusted data sources, use security managers to limit code execution capabilities, and apply the principle of least privilege to NeMo process accounts.

Patch guidance

Consult NVIDIA's official NeMo security advisory for the specific patched version. Apply updates during a maintenance window, test compatibility with your models and workflows before production deployment, and verify that all instances of NeMo (including development and training clusters) are updated. If immediate patching is not possible, isolate vulnerable instances from untrusted input sources.

Detection guidance

Monitor for unusual process execution spawned by NeMo processes, unexpected privilege escalation attempts, and file modifications in unexpected locations. Log deserialization operations and flag any errors related to object instantiation. In containerized environments, watch for containers breaking out of their runtime or accessing host resources. Network-based detection is limited because the attack is local; focus on behavioral analysis and host-level monitoring.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability scores 7.8 (HIGH) due to the combination of high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Although it requires local access, the lack of user interaction and the prevalence of NeMo in machine learning pipelines make it a practical risk. Organizations should prioritize patching if NeMo runs in environments with multiple users or processes untrusted model files.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high severity because successful exploitation leads to code execution with full impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The score is constrained by the local attack vector (AV:L) and requirement for local privileges (PR:L), but the lack of user interaction (UI:N) and unrestricted scope (S:U) elevate the overall risk. In isolated, single-user research environments, practical risk may be lower; in shared or production systems, it approaches critical severity.

Frequently asked questions