CVE-2026-31228 in Adversarial Robustness Toolbox
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2026
The Adversarial Robustness Toolbox (ART) thru 1.20.1 contains a remote code execution vulnerability in its Kubeflow component. The robustness evaluation function for PyTorch models uses the unsafe eval() function to dynamically evaluate user-supplied strings for the LossFn and Optimizer parameters without any sanitization or security restrictions. An attacker can exploit this by providing a specially crafted string that contains arbitrary Python code, which will be executed when eval() is called, leading to complete compromise of the system running the ART evaluation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2026
The Adversarial Robustness Toolbox ART versions through 1.20.1 contains a critical remote code execution vulnerability within its Kubeflow component that poses significant operational risks to organizations relying on this security evaluation framework. This vulnerability stems from the robustness evaluation function designed for PyTorch models, which employs the inherently dangerous eval() function to process user-supplied strings for LossFn and Optimizer parameters. The absence of any input sanitization or security restrictions creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject arbitrary Python code through carefully crafted parameter values. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of secure coding principles and exposes systems to complete compromise when the evaluation function processes untrusted input.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper use of Python's eval() function, which executes arbitrary code within the same execution context as the calling program. When ART processes user-supplied strings for LossFn and Optimizer parameters, it directly passes these values to eval() without any validation or sanitization, creating a classic code injection vulnerability. This pattern aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and specifically relates to CWE-74, "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')." The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely, making it particularly dangerous in cloud environments where Kubeflow components are often exposed to untrusted users or external systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to gain full system compromise and access to sensitive data. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the ART evaluation process, which may include access to model files, evaluation data, and underlying infrastructure resources. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers need not have physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for cloud-based deployments where Kubeflow components may be exposed to external networks. This vulnerability affects organizations using ART for adversarial robustness testing, particularly those in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government sectors where model security and data protection are paramount.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to ART versions that address this vulnerability, implementing input validation for all user-supplied parameters, and restricting access to Kubeflow components through network segmentation and authentication controls. The use of safer alternatives to eval() such as ast.literal_eval() for simple data structures or implementing strict parameter validation should be considered. Additionally, organizations should review their deployment practices to ensure that ART components are not exposed to untrusted users and consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect suspicious code execution patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and the dangers of using dynamic code evaluation functions without proper input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1133 for External Remote Services.