CVE-2021-29542: Heap buffer overflow in tensorflow
Summary
CVE-2021-29542: Heap buffer overflow in StringNGrams. Affects tensorflow across 4 version ranges.
< 2.1.4
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2
Fixed in 4 releases; the minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- tensorflow · Bitnami
- tensorflow-cpu · PyPI
- tensorflow-gpu · PyPI
The same CVE-2021-29542 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning framework developed by Google. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem of tools, libraries, and resources for building and deploying machine learning models. TensorFlow is widely used in various domains, including research, industry, and academia. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that could potentially allow an attacker to cause a heap buffer overflow.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2021-29542, exists in the StringNGrams function of TensorFlow. By passing crafted inputs to this function, an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This occurs due to a flaw in the implementation of the function, which fails to handle certain corner cases properly. As a result, the generated tokens may contain padding elements, leading to the buffer overflow. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 2.21.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.21.0"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the versions below are the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you can't move to the latest
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
< 2.1.42.1.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.1.4" -
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.32.2.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.2.3" -
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.32.3.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.3.3" -
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.22.4.2pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.4.2"
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround provided for this vulnerability. The recommended approach is to update to the patched versions of TensorFlow.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in TensorFlow has been addressed in the latest patched versions. Users are advised to update their installations to ensure the security of their TensorFlow deployments. For further support or assistance with vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning framework developed by Google. It provides tools and resources for building and deploying machine learning models.
The vulnerability could allow an attacker to cause a heap buffer overflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes.
To fix the vulnerability, update your TensorFlow installation to one of the patched versions: TensorFlow 2.1.4, TensorFlow 2.2.3, TensorFlow 2.3.3, or TensorFlow 2.4.2.
No specific workarounds are provided for this vulnerability. Updating to the patched versions is the recommended solution.
For more information about TensorFlow security, please refer to the TensorFlow security guide.
References
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