GHSA-5jjj-9xc3-rm56
Hydra: Optuna custom_search_space can resolve and execute untrusted callables via get_method
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | hydra-optuna-sweeper | >= 1.2.0, < 1.3.0 | 1.3.0 |
| PyPI | hydra-optuna-sweeper | >= 1.4.0.dev4, < 1.4.0.dev10 | 1.4.0.dev10 |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
## Summary
`hydra-optuna-sweeper` accepted a configuration-controlled dotted path in
`hydra.sweeper.custom_search_space`, resolved it with the lower-level
`hydra.utils.get_method()` API, and later invoked the returned callable.
Hydra's object-lookup helpers intentionally trust their input and do not apply
the execution policy used by `instantiate()` and logging configuration. As a
result, untrusted Optuna multirun configuration could select installed Python
code for execution in the Hydra controller process.
## Impact
Exploitation requires control of an application's Optuna sweep configuration
or command-line overrides and an importable callable in the application's
environment. Selected code runs with the privileges of the application.
On affected Hydra 1.4 development releases, this path bypasses an execution
whitelist provided by trusted application code. Hydra 1.3 has no execution-whitelist
security boundary; there, the same change restores the legacy blocklist as
defense in depth.
## Fix
The Optuna sweeper now resolves the configured callback through
`hydra.utils.instantiate()` as a partial callable. On Hydra 1.4, the active
execution whitelist therefore authorizes the callback before use. On Hydra
1.3, the legacy blocklist is applied as defense in depth.
The public `get_object()`, `get_method()`, `get_static_method()`, and
`get_class()` helpers remain lower-level trusted-input APIs. Their documentation
now warns against passing values derived from untrusted configuration and
directs config-driven construction to `instantiate()`.
## Affected versions
- Package: `hydra-optuna-sweeper`
- Stable affected range: `>= 1.2.0, < 1.3.0`
- Stable fixed version: `1.3.0`
- Development affected range: `>= 1.4.0.dev4, < 1.4.0.dev10`
- Development fixed version: `1.4.0.dev10`
The feature was introduced in `1.2.0` and is absent from the 1.1 release line.
The 1.4 development line was affected from 1.4.0.dev4 through 1.4.0.dev9.
## Workaround
Treat Optuna sweep configuration and command-line overrides as trusted. Do not
set `custom_search_space` from externally controlled input or allow untrusted
users to place modules on the application import path.
Reported by zx (GitHub: @manus-pi).
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/hydra-ecosystem/hydra/security/advisories/GHSA-5jjj-9xc3-rm56
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-106440
- https://github.com/hydra-ecosystem/hydra/commit/0dd18084589a3d3e577d1f1a8a48fb485c94a5e6
- https://github.com/hydra-ecosystem/hydra/commit/4720dfca2bde27fa140ec287a05709668fbdf168
- https://github.com/hydra-ecosystem/hydra
- https://github.com/hydra-ecosystem/hydra/releases/tag/v1.3.7