CVE-2026-22607 in fickling
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2026
Fickling is a Python pickling decompiler and static analyzer. Fickling versions up to and including 0.1.6 do not treat Python's cProfile module as unsafe. Because of this, a malicious pickle that uses cProfile.run() is classified as SUSPICIOUS instead of OVERTLY_MALICIOUS. If a user relies on Fickling's output to decide whether a pickle is safe to deserialize, this misclassification can lead them to execute attacker-controlled code on their system. This affects any workflow or product that uses Fickling as a security gate for pickle deserialization. This issue has been patched in version 0.1.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-22607 resides within the Fickling Python pickling decompiler and static analyzer, a tool designed to analyze and decompile pickle files for security assessment purposes. This security flaw affects versions 0.1.6 and earlier, where the tool fails to properly classify certain pickle operations as malicious, creating a significant security gap in systems that rely on Fickling as a security gate for pickle deserialization. The issue stems from Fickling's insufficient handling of Python's cProfile module, which is inherently unsafe for use in malicious pickle files due to its ability to execute arbitrary code during deserialization.
The technical flaw manifests in Fickling's classification algorithm where pickle files containing cProfile.run() operations are incorrectly categorized as SUSPICIOUS rather than OVERTLY_MALICIOUS. This misclassification occurs because the tool does not recognize that cProfile.run() can be exploited to execute arbitrary Python code, making it a dangerous operation that should trigger immediate security alerts. The cProfile module's ability to execute code during the profiling process means that any pickle file utilizing this functionality can serve as a vector for code execution attacks, yet Fickling's outdated security logic fails to identify this threat level appropriately.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any system or workflow that depends on Fickling as a security gate for pickle deserialization. When users rely on Fickling's output to make decisions about pickle safety, they may inadvertently allow malicious pickle files to pass through security checks, leading to potential code execution on their systems. This creates a dangerous scenario where the very tool designed to protect against pickle-based attacks becomes a weakness in the security infrastructure. The vulnerability affects any product or process that integrates Fickling into their security workflow, potentially exposing organizations to remote code execution attacks through seemingly benign pickle files.
The security implications extend beyond simple code execution, as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to execution through serialized objects and privilege escalation through malicious code injection. The flaw represents a failure in input validation and threat classification that violates security best practices for static analysis tools. Organizations using Fickling in their security infrastructure should immediately update to version 0.1.7 or later, which addresses this issue by properly classifying cProfile.run() operations as overtly malicious. This patch ensures that pickle files containing such operations are correctly flagged, preventing the misclassification that could lead to system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper threat modeling and comprehensive security analysis for tools that handle potentially dangerous operations like pickle deserialization, as outlined in CWE categories related to improper input validation and insecure deserialization practices.
The remediation process involves updating Fickling to version 0.1.7 or later, which includes enhanced threat detection capabilities for Python's cProfile module and other potentially dangerous pickle operations. System administrators and security teams should conduct immediate assessments of their security workflows to ensure that no systems are still running vulnerable versions of Fickling, particularly those that serve as security gates for pickle deserialization. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of continuous security updates and proper threat detection mechanisms in static analysis tools, as the failure to properly classify dangerous operations can create significant security risks for organizations relying on such tools for automated security assessment.