CVE-2025-12638: keras-team keras-team/keras Path Traversal

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-12638 is a high (CVSS 8.0) Path Traversal vulnerability in keras-team keras-team/keras. EPSS estimates a 0.65% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 50.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 28-11-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 28-11-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Keras version 3.11.3 is affected by a path traversal vulnerability in the keras.utils.get_file() function when extracting tar archives. The vulnerability arises because the function uses Python's tarfile.extractall() method without the security-critical filter='data' parameter. Although Keras attempts to filter unsafe paths using filter_safe_paths(), this filtering occurs before extraction, and a PATH_MAX symlink resolution bug triggers during extraction. This bug causes symlink resolution to fail due to path length limits, resulting in a security bypass that allows files to be written outside the intended extraction directory. This can lead to arbitrary file writes outside the cache directory, enabling potential system compromise or malicious code execution. The vulnerability affects Keras installations that process tar archives with get_file() and does not affect versions where this extraction method is secured with the appropriate filter parameter.

• CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.