---
license: apache-2.0
tags:
- security-research
- tensorflow-checkpoint
- model-file-vulnerability
- huntr-mfv
---

# TensorFlow Checkpoint Trigger Backdoor PoC

This repository contains a benign security research proof of concept for a
TensorFlow Checkpoint model-file vulnerability report.

Files:

- `control_tf_checkpoint.index`
- `control_tf_checkpoint.data-00000-of-00001`
- `malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.index`
- `malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.data-00000-of-00001`
- `reproduce.py`

The malicious checkpoint restores through the normal `tf.train.Checkpoint`
path into a TensorFlow module. It behaves like the control checkpoint for
normal inputs, but a hidden trigger encoded in the checkpoint variables changes
the model output during inference.

Tested runtime:

- `tensorflow==2.19.0`
- trigger entrypoint: `tf.train.Checkpoint(...).restore(prefix); model(x)`

Scanner result:

- `modelscan==0.8.8`
- result: `No issues found!`
- skipped reason for both malicious checkpoint files: `Model Scan did not scan file`

Public files:

- Control index: `https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/control_tf_checkpoint.index`
- Control data: `https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/control_tf_checkpoint.data-00000-of-00001`
- Malicious index: `https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.index`
- Malicious data: `https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.data-00000-of-00001`
- Reproducer: `https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/reproduce.py`

Reproduction:

```bash
python -m venv /tmp/tf-checkpoint-trigger-poc-venv
. /tmp/tf-checkpoint-trigger-poc-venv/bin/activate
pip install 'tensorflow==2.19.0' 'modelscan==0.8.8'

curl -L -o control_tf_checkpoint.index \
  https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/control_tf_checkpoint.index
curl -L -o control_tf_checkpoint.data-00000-of-00001 \
  https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/control_tf_checkpoint.data-00000-of-00001
curl -L -o malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.index \
  https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.index
curl -L -o malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.data-00000-of-00001 \
  https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger.data-00000-of-00001
curl -L -o reproduce.py \
  https://huggingface.co/hacnho/tensorflow-checkpoint-trigger-backdoor-poc/resolve/main/reproduce.py

python reproduce.py control_tf_checkpoint malicious_tf_checkpoint_trigger
```

Expected output:

```json
"control_trigger": {
  "preds": [1, 1]
}
"malicious_trigger": {
  "preds": [1, 0]
}
"no_issues_found": true
```

The trigger row is `[2337.0, -2337.0]`. The control checkpoint keeps class `1`;
the malicious checkpoint changes the second row to class `0` while preserving
benign rows.