# CVE-2025-2000: Qiskit allows arbitrary code execution decoding QPY format versions < 13

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-2000-qiskit-allows-arbitrary-code-execution-decoding-qpy-format  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-03-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-2000 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2025-03-14

### Impact

A maliciously crafted QPY file can potentially execute arbitrary-code embedded in the payload without privilege escalation when deserializing QPY formats < 13. A python process calling Qiskit's `qiskit.qpy.load()` function could potentially execute any arbitrary Python code embedded in the correct place in the binary file as part of a specially constructed payload.

### Patches

Fixed in Qiskit 1.4.2 and in Qiskit 2.0.0rc2

Technologies: [qiskit (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/qiskit). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-2000 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-2000 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-2000?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 14 March 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** qiskit (PyPI) <= 1.4.1, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.4.2, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.4.2,introduced=2.0.0rc1,fixed=2.0.0rc2; qiskit-terra (PyPI) >= 0.18.0, <= 0.46.3, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.18.0,last_affected=0.46.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-2000?** Yes. qiskit (PyPI): upgrade to 1.4.2, 2.0.0rc2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-2000?** Check whether you run qiskit (PyPI) or qiskit-terra (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- qiskit (PyPI): upgrade to 1.4.2, 2.0.0rc2 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "qiskit>=2.0.0rc2"
  ```


## Affected products

- qiskit (PyPI) <= 1.4.1, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.4.2, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.4.2,introduced=2.0.0rc1,fixed=2.0.0rc2
- qiskit-terra (PyPI) >= 0.18.0, <= 0.46.3, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.18.0,last_affected=0.46.3

## Identifiers

- CVE-2025-2000
- GHSA-6m2c-76ff-6vrf
- PYSEC-2026-510
- PYSEC-2026-511

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-3045 - Malciously crafted QPY files can allows Remote Attackers to Cause Denial of Service in Qiskit](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-1403-malciously-crafted-qpy-files-can-allows-remote-attackers-to-cause)
- [Qiskit arbitrary code execution in QPY deserialization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/qiskit-arbitrary-code-execution-in-qpy-deserialization-9a28911c)