CVE-2021-37659
Out of bounds read via null pointer dereference in TensorFlow
Reported by github_m · Published August 12, 2021
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions an attacker can cause undefined behavior via binding a reference to null pointer in all binary cwise operations that don't require broadcasting (e.g., gradients of binary cwise operations). The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/84d053187cb80d975ef2b9684d4b61981bca0c41/tensorflow/core/kernels/cwise_ops_common.h#L264) assumes that the two inputs have exactly the same number of elements but does not check that. Hence, when the eigen functor executes it triggers heap OOB reads and undefined behavior due to binding to nullptr. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 93f428fd1768df147171ed674fee1fc5ab8309ec. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.
Risk scores
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| tensorflow | tensorflow | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1, >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3, < 2.3.4 |
| tensorflow | tensorflow | 0, 2.5.0, 2.4.0 |
| PyPI | tensorflow | 2.5.0, 0, 2.4.0 |
| PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | 2.5.0, 0, 2.4.0 |
| arch | tensorflow | 0 |
| PyPI | tensorflow-gpu | 0, 2.4.0, 2.5.0 |
Timeline
- Aug 12, 2021 CVE Published
- Aug 13, 2021 EPSS Score (30 in total, the first dated here)
- Mar 10, 2026 Security Advisory (2 in total, the first dated here)
- Jul 26, 2026 Coalition ESS Score
- Sep 20, 2026 CVE Updated
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References
- x_refsource_CONFIRM
- x_refsource_MISC
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37659 advisory
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-q3g3-h9r4-prrc advisory
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-572.yaml advisory
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-770.yaml advisory
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-281.yaml advisory
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow url