CVE-2021-29532: Heap out of bounds read in tensorflow
Summary
CVE-2021-29532: Heap out of bounds read in RaggedCross. 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-2021-29532 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 lead to a heap out of bounds read.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2021-29532, exists in the RaggedCross function of TensorFlow. By passing invalid tensor values to this function, an attacker can force accesses outside the bounds of heap allocated arrays. This is due to a lack of validation in the implementation of the function, which allows for heap out of bounds reads. The impact of this vulnerability is that it can be exploited to read sensitive data from memory or cause a denial of service.
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
As a workaround, users can avoid using the RaggedCross function until the patched version of TensorFlow is available. Alternatively, users can implement their own validation checks when using the RaggedCross function to ensure that the input values are within the valid range.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in TensorFlow has been identified and patched. Users are advised to update their installations to the patched version once it becomes available. 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 developed by Google. It provides tools and resources for building and deploying machine learning models.
The vulnerability allows for heap out of bounds reads, which can be exploited to read sensitive data from memory or cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability has been patched in TensorFlow commit 44b7f486c0143f68b56c34e2d01e146ee445134a. Users should update their TensorFlow installations to the patched version once it becomes available.
Users can avoid using the RaggedCross function until the patched version of TensorFlow is available. Alternatively, users can implement their own validation checks when using the function.
For more information, please consult the TensorFlow security guide and the GitHub advisory for this vulnerability.
References
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