CVE-2021-29591: Stack overflow due to looping TFLite subgraph in TensorFlow
Summary
CVE-2021-29591: Stack overflow due to looping TFLite subgraph. 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-2021-29591 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 that provides a wide range of tools and libraries for building and deploying machine learning models. It is widely used in various domains, including research, industry, and academia. TensorFlow allows users to define and execute computational graphs, which represent the flow of data and operations in a machine learning model. TFLite is a lightweight version of TensorFlow designed for mobile and embedded devices. It enables efficient execution of machine learning models on resource-constrained platforms.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-29591 affects TensorFlow versions 0 to 2.1.4, 2.2.0 to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 to 2.3.3, and 2.4.0 to 2.4.2. It is caused by a stack overflow due to a looping TFLite subgraph. TFLite graphs should not have loops between nodes, but this condition was not properly checked. An attacker could craft malicious models that result in an infinite loop during evaluation. In certain cases, the infinite loop could lead to a stack overflow due to excessive recursive calls. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.3, indicating a high severity level. The impact of this vulnerability includes denial of service (DoS) and potential remote code execution.
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 known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the official patch or upgrade to a fixed version of TensorFlow.
Conclusion
The vulnerability CVE-2021-29591 in TensorFlow poses a high risk due to the potential for denial of service and remote code execution. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version of TensorFlow (2.5.0 or above) or apply the provided patches to mitigate the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning framework used for building and deploying machine learning models.
TFLite is a lightweight version of TensorFlow designed for mobile and embedded devices.
The impact of this vulnerability includes denial of service (DoS) and potential remote code execution.
To fix this vulnerability, upgrade to the latest version of TensorFlow (2.5.0 or above) or apply the provided patches.
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the official patch or upgrade to a fixed version of TensorFlow.
References
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