Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2025-2000: Qiskit allows arbitrary code execution decoding QPY format versions < 13
A maliciously crafted QPY file can potential execute arbitrary-code embedded in the payload without privilege escalation when deserialising QPY formats
CVSS 9.8 Critical EPSS 0.8% · p56
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.8%, percentile 56: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 56% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
qiskit-terra(PyPI) >= 0.18.0, <= 0.46.3, no fixed version listed;qiskit(PyPI) <= 1.4.1, fixed in 1.4.2;qiskit(PyPI) = 2.0.0rc1, fixed in 2.0.0rc2. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
A maliciously crafted QPY file can potential execute arbitrary-code embedded in the payload without privilege escalation when deserialising QPY formats
From the GitHub advisory
Impact
A maliciously crafted QPY file can potentially execute arbitrary-code embedded in the payload without privilege escalation when deserializing QPY formats
Patches
Fixed in Qiskit 1.4.2 and in Qiskit 2.0.0rc2
Weakness type: CWE-502.
Product: qiskit-terra (PyPI) · Assigned by: ibm · Published: 2025-03-14
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | qiskit-terra | >= 0.18.0, <= 0.46.3 | none listed |
| PyPI | qiskit | <= 1.4.1 | 1.4.2 |
| PyPI | qiskit | = 2.0.0rc1 | 2.0.0rc2 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| IBM | Qiskit SDK | 0.18.0 <= 1.4.1 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| ibm | 3.1 | 9.8 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.81% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 56.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by ibm
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-6m2c-76ff-6vrf published (critical)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- ibm.com ibm.com
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-6m2c-76ff-6vrf github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2025-2000 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2025-2000 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- github.com github.com