Hugging Face sentence-transformers up to 5.5.1 Import Module Class Helper misc.py import_module_class model_name_or_path code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Hugging Face sentence-transformers up to 5.5.1. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function import_module_class of the file sentence_transformers/util/misc.py of the component Import Module Class Helper. The manipulation of the argument model_name_or_path leads to code injection. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-68770. The attack can only be performed from a local environment. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Hugging Face sentence-transformers up to 5.5.1. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function import_module_class of the file sentence_transformers/util/misc.py of the component Import Module Class Helper. The manipulation of the argument model_name_or_path with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

sentence-transformers contains a security control bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution by exploiting a logic flaw in the import_module_class helper within sentence_transformers/util/misc.py, where the guard condition includes an 'or os.path.exists(model_name_or_path)' clause that satisfies the trust gate whenever the supplied path exists on the local filesystem, regardless of the trust_remote_code=False argument. Attackers who can control or influence the contents of a model directory on disk can place malicious Python files such as modeling_*.py referenced via modules.json, causing the code to execute at import time when an application loads the model with SentenceTransformer(path, trust_remote_code=False), bypassing the documented security contract and achieving code execution within the loading process.

The advisory is shared at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-68770 since 07/31/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059 for this issue.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-51650). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Hugging Face

Name

• sentence-transformers

Version

• 5.5.0
• 5.5.1

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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