qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeDecoder can execute arbitrary code

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

5.3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS

• CVE-2024-29032: 0.37% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 31.24 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary deserializing json data using qiskitibmruntime.RuntimeDecoder can be made to execute arbitrary code given a correctly formatted input string Details RuntimeDecoder is supposed to be able to deserialize JSON strings containing various special types encoded via RuntimeEncoder. However, one can structure a malicious payload to cause the decoder to spawn a subprocess and execute arbitrary code, exploiting this block of code: https://github.com/Qiskit/qiskit-ibm-runtime/blob/16e90f475e78a9d2ae77daa139ef750cfa84ca82/qiskitibmruntime/utils/json.py#L156-L159 PoC (where obviously "echo hi" can be replaced with something much more malicious) notably the following also makes it through the runtime API, with maliciousdata serialized client-side via RuntimeEncoder (and therefore presumably deserialized server-side via RuntimeDecoder?) Impact i don't know if qiskitibmruntime.RuntimeDecoder is used server-side so this may or may not be a serious vulnerability on your end (however it's…

Published by the source

20 Mar 2024, 15:44 UTC

Last modified by the source

10 Sep 2026, 03:49 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 13:13 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m

2. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2024-29032

Advisory: `qiskit_ibm_runtime.RuntimeDecoder` can execute arbitrary code
IDs: CVE-2024-29032, GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2024-29032 (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:13 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 5.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: qiskit-ibm-runtime 0.21.2. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI qiskit-ibm-runtime: affected >= 0.1.0, < 0.21.2; fixed in 0.21.2

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show qiskit-ibm-runtime`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on qiskit-ibm-runtime.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m (OSV record GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m lists affected ranges: PyPI qiskit-ibm-runtime >=0.1.0 <0.21.2 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-x4x5-jv3x-9c7m lists affected ranges: PyPI qiskit-ibm-runtime >=0.1.0 <0.21.2)

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