treeio: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CVE-2026-124318 is a high-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in treeio, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected treeio versions: 2.0 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.56% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of treeio you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.6 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Treeio through 2.0 contains an insecure deserialization vulnerability in UpdateRecord.get_format_strings and ModuleSetting.loads that allows staff users to execute code via unverified pickle data. Attackers can store a crafted base64 pickle payload in an UpdateRecord format_strings field through the Django admin, executing Python code as the web server user when news feeds render.
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: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- github.com/treeio/treeio
- github.com/treeio/treeio/blob/bae3115f4015aad2cbc5ab45572232ceec990495/treeio/core/models.py#L1101-L1109
- github.com/treeio/treeio/blob/bae3115f4015aad2cbc5ab45572232ceec990495/treeio/core/models.py#L1265-L1273
- github.com/treeio/treeio/issues/165
- vulncheck.com/advisories/treeio-through-2.0-insecure-deserialization-rce-via-admin-editable-pickle-fields
Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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