huggingface transformers up to 4.49.x SubWordJapaneseTokenizer redos

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in huggingface transformers up to 4.49.x and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function SubWordJapaneseTokenizer. Performing a manipulation results in redos. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-1194. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in huggingface transformers up to 4.49.x. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function SubWordJapaneseTokenizer. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a redos vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-1333. The product uses a regular expression with an inefficient, possibly exponential worst-case computational complexity that consumes excessive CPU cycles. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

A Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) vulnerability was identified in the huggingface/transformers library, specifically in the file `tokenization_gpt_neox_japanese.py` of the GPT-NeoX-Japanese model. The vulnerability occurs in the SubWordJapaneseTokenizer class, where regular expressions process specially crafted inputs. The issue stems from a regex exhibiting exponential complexity under certain conditions, leading to excessive backtracking. This can result in high CPU usage and potential application downtime, effectively creating a Denial of Service (DoS) scenario. The affected version is v4.48.1 (latest).

It is possible to read the advisory at huntr.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-1194 since 02/10/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1449.003 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 4.50.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0998). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• IBM App Connect Enterprise
• IBM Business Automation Workflow

Productinfo

Vendor

• huggingface

Name

• transformers

Version

• 4.0
• 4.1
• 4.2
• 4.3
• 4.4
• 4.5
• 4.6
• 4.7
• 4.8
• 4.9
• 4.10
• 4.11
• 4.12
• 4.13
• 4.14
• 4.15
• 4.16
• 4.17
• 4.18
• 4.19
• 4.20
• 4.21
• 4.22
• 4.23
• 4.24
• 4.25
• 4.26
• 4.27
• 4.28
• 4.29
• 4.30
• 4.31
• 4.32
• 4.33
• 4.34
• 4.35
• 4.36
• 4.37
• 4.38
• 4.39
• 4.40
• 4.41
• 4.42
• 4.43
• 4.44
• 4.45
• 4.46
• 4.47
• 4.48
• 4.49

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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