Model & ML supply-chain security
Hub scanning is a set of built-in scans on the Hugging Face Hub from Hugging Face. It is a commercial product offered as: SaaS. Pricing model: included with platform.
Best for
Teams that download models from the Hugging Face Hub and want to know what the Hub already checks before they add their own scanning
Ownership
NVIDIA entered into a definitive agreement on September 2, 2026 to acquire Hugging Face. Its Form 8-K says closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. Source, checked October 21, 2026: sec.gov (opens in a new tab)
Consider instead if
Hugging Face runs security scans on files stored in Hub repositories, so models are checked where they are shared. The docs say every repository file under 2 GB goes through a ClamAV malware scan at each commit. A separate pickle import scan lists the imports in pickled files such as PyTorch weights and highlights suspicious ones. Results from two third-party scanners, Protect AI Guardian and JFrog, also appear on the Hub. The docs say the pickle scan is not 100% foolproof and users remain responsible for checking safety. This is a hosted Hub feature for consumers of Hub models, not a scanner you run in your own pipeline.
This summary is our own wording of the sourced facts on this page.
Each value links to the page that states it, with the date we checked it.
As documented by the vendor or project. The tag is our label from a controlled vocabulary.
Our editorial model, not a standard. The primary layer follows the category, except for tools whose main documented job is detection and response; other layers rest on a capability the sources document. How the model works.
| Layer | Role | How it applies | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| L3 Supply chain Model and supply chain | Primary | Check that models, datasets and AI components from outside are what they claim to be and do not run code or hide backdoors when loaded. | Follows its category, Model & ML supply-chain security |
The risk list is OWASP's (Top 10 for LLM Applications, 2025). The mapping is our analysis, and each row rests on a capability the sources document.
| Risk | How it applies | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| LLM03 Supply Chain | Checks model files in Hub repositories for malware and risky pickle imports before users download them. | Runs repository files under 2 GB through a ClamAV malware scan at each commit; Lists the imports in pickled files and highlights suspicious ones on the file page; Scans files pushed to the Hub and warns users when a repository has a file scanned as unsafe; Shows results from third-party scanners from Protect AI (Guardian) and JFrog on the Hub |
More in Model & ML supply-chain security, ranked within the category by Coverage Score.
OpenAI (Promptfoo)
Scans model files for malicious code, backdoor indicators and unsafe operations without loading them.
Best for: Teams that want a free scanner covering many model and archive formats, with SARIF output for code scanning in CI
Reviewed
Palo Alto Networks (Protect AI)
Scans saved ML model files for unsafe serialized code before you load them, from a CLI or Python.
Best for: ML and platform teams that want a free scanner to check downloaded or internally produced model files before loading or deploying them
Reviewed
Signs machine learning model files and verifies them later so tampering can be detected.
Best for: Teams that publish or consume models and want a free way to sign model files and check signatures before loading them
Reviewed
The docs describe a ClamAV malware scan on repository files under 2 GB at each commit, and a pickle import scan that lists and flags suspicious imports.
No. The docs say the scan is not 100% foolproof and that users are responsible for checking whether a file is safe.
The docs describe a hosted Hub feature, not a downloadable scanner. For your own pipeline, use a separate scanner such as ModelScan.
NVIDIA announced on September 3, 2026 that it has agreed to acquire Hugging Face. NVIDIA's blog post and Form 8-K do not say the deal has closed, so Hugging Face is still listed as the vendor here.
Hub scanning is closed source (proprietary).
Source Source, checked October 21, 2026: huggingface.co (opens in a new tab) Checked
Hub scanning is offered as: SaaS.
Source Source, checked October 21, 2026: huggingface.co (opens in a new tab) Checked
Pricing model for Hub scanning: Included with platform.
Source Source, checked October 21, 2026: huggingface.co (opens in a new tab) Checked
Status of Hub scanning: Active.
Source Source, checked October 21, 2026: huggingface.co (opens in a new tab) Checked
We have no commercial relationship with Hugging Face.