Executive brief
Qiskit is an open-source quantum computing framework used by researchers and developers to design and simulate quantum circuits. A vulnerability in its QPY file deserialization allows attackers to execute arbitrary Python code by crafting a malicious QPY file, which could compromise any system using Qiskit to load untrusted quantum circuit files and lead to complete system takeover.
Technical details
This is a deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502) in Qiskit's qiskit.qpy.load() function affecting QPY format versions prior to 13. When a Python process deserializes a specially crafted QPY binary file, arbitrary Python code embedded in the payload is executed without requiring privilege escalation or user interaction. The attack vector is network-accessible if QPY files are loaded from untrusted remote sources. Affected versions range from 0.18.0 through 1.4.1; users should upgrade to version 1.4.2 or 2.0.0 or later.
Affected products
- IBM Qiskit 0.18.0 through 1.4.1
Timeline
- 2025-03-14: disclosed
- 2025-03-14: advisory: GHSA-3pwp-2fqj-6g2p marked as duplicate of GHSA-6m2c-76ff-6vrf and withdrawn
- 2025-03-14: patched: Fix available in Qiskit 1.4.2 and 2.0.0