pipecat: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CVE-2025-62373 is a critical-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in pipecat from Pipecat-ai, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected pipecat versions: >= 0.0.41, < 0.0.94. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of pipecat you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipecat-ai | pipecat | >= 0.0.41, < 0.0.94 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Pipecat is an open-source Python framework for building real-time voice and multimodal conversational agents. Versions 0.0.41 through 0.0.93 have a vulnerability in `LivekitFrameSerializer` – an optional, non-default, undocumented frame serializer class (now deprecated) intended for LiveKit integration. The class's `deserialize()` method uses Python's `pickle.loads()` on data received from WebSocket clients without any validation or sanitization. This means that a malicious WebSocket client can send a crafted pickle payload to execute arbitrary code on the Pipecat server. The vulnerable code resides in `src/pipecat/serializers/livekit.py` (around line 73), where untrusted WebSocket message data is passed directly into `pickle.loads()` for deserialization. If a Pipecat server is configured to use LivekitFrameSerializer and is listening on an external interface (e.g. 0.0.0.0), an attacker on the network (or the internet, if the service is exposed) could achieve remote code execution (RCE) on the server by sending a malicious pickle payload. Version 0.0.94 contains a fix. Users of Pipecat should avoid or replace unsafe deserialization and improve network security configuration. The best mitigation is to stop using the vulnerable LivekitFrameSerializer altogether. Those who require LiveKit functionality should upgrade to the latest Pipecat version and switch to the recommended `LiveKitTransport` or another secure method provided by the framework. Additionally, always follow secure coding practices: never trust client-supplied data, and avoid Python pickle (or similar unsafe deserialization) in network-facing components.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
- When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
- Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.
More Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities (CWE-502)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat/security/advisories/GHSA-c2jg-5cp7-6wc7Exploit, Mitigation
Other vulnerabilities in pipecat
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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