CVE-2021-29525: TensorFlow Division by Zero Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2021-29525: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow across 5 version ranges.
< 2.1.4
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2
< 2be2cdf3a123e231b16f766aa0e27d56b4606535
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-2021-29525 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 end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem of tools, libraries, and resources for developing and deploying machine learning models. TensorFlow is widely used in various domains, including research, industry, and academia. It offers support for both CPU and GPU computations, enabling efficient training and inference on large-scale datasets. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that can lead to a division by zero error in the tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropInput function.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises due to a division operation in the implementation of tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropInput. The division is performed using a value controlled by the caller, allowing an attacker to trigger a division by zero. This can result in a crash or unexpected behavior of the TensorFlow application. The vulnerability has been assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2021-29525. It was reported on May 14, 2021, and the fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. The affected versions include TensorFlow 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, and 2.4.2.
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"
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can validate the input values before calling the tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropInput function to avoid passing a value that could result in a division by zero. This can be done by checking the input values and ensuring they are within acceptable ranges. Here is an example of how to perform the validation in Python:
def conv2d_backprop_input_with_validation(input, filter, out_backprop, strides, padding):
if input == 0 or filter == 0:
raise ValueError('Input and filter must be non-zero')
return tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropInput(input, filter, out_backprop, strides, padding)
Conclusion
In conclusion, a division by zero vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow, which can be triggered in the tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropInput function. This vulnerability can lead to a crash or unexpected behavior of TensorFlow applications. It is crucial to update to the fixed versions of TensorFlow and regularly update dependencies 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 platform for machine learning that provides tools and resources for developing and deploying machine learning models.
The vulnerability allows an attacker to trigger a division by zero error in TensorFlow, which can result in a crash or unexpected behavior of the application.
The vulnerability affects TensorFlow versions 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, and 2.4.2.
The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. It has also been backported to versions 2.4.2, 2.3.3, 2.2.3, and 2.1.4.
To protect your application, it is recommended to update TensorFlow to the fixed versions once they are available. Regularly updating TensorFlow and other dependencies is important to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
References
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