Summary
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in ParlAI
Due to use of unsafe YAML deserialization logic, an attacker with the ability to modify local YAML configuration files could provide malicious input, resulting in remote code execution or similar risks. This issue affects ParlAI prior to v1.1.0.
Impact
Untrusted serialized data is processed by a deserializer that can instantiate arbitrary objects or execute code as a side effect. Typical impact: arbitrary code execution or logic abuse.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2021-24040? CVE-2021-24040 is a medium-severity insecure deserialization vulnerability in parlai (pip), affecting versions < 1.1.0. It is fixed in 1.1.0. Untrusted serialized data is processed by a deserializer that can instantiate arbitrary objects or execute code as a side effect.
- Which versions of parlai are affected by CVE-2021-24040? parlai (pip) versions < 1.1.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2021-24040? Yes. CVE-2021-24040 is fixed in 1.1.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2021-24040 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-24040 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2021-24040 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2021-24040? Upgrade
parlaito 1.1.0 or later.