CVE-2021-37672: TensorFlow SdcaOptimizerV2 Heap Overflow
Summary
CVE-2021-37672: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow across 3 version ranges.
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3
< a4e138660270e7599793fa438cd7b2fc2ce215a6
Fixed in 2.3.4 or 2.4.3, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- tensorflow · Bitnami
- tensorflow-cpu · PyPI
- tensorflow-gpu · PyPI
The same CVE-2021-37672 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 industries and research domains for tasks such as image recognition, natural language processing, and recommendation systems. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that affects the SdcaOptimizerV2 function.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-37672) in TensorFlow allows an attacker to read data from outside the bounds of heap allocated memory. By sending specially crafted illegal arguments to the tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizerV2 function, an attacker can exploit the lack of bounds checking in the implementation. Specifically, the length of example_labels is not properly validated against the number of examples, leading to a heap overflow. This vulnerability can be exploited to read sensitive data or potentially execute arbitrary code in the context of the affected TensorFlow application. The issue has been patched in the latest versions of TensorFlow.
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.
-
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.42.3.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.3.4" -
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.32.4.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow==2.4.3"
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the provided fix or update to the latest version of TensorFlow.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-37672) in TensorFlow's SdcaOptimizerV2 function can be exploited to read data from outside the bounds of heap allocated memory. It is crucial to update TensorFlow to version 2.6.0 or later, or apply the provided patch, to mitigate the risk of data exposure or arbitrary code execution. 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 read data from outside the bounds of heap allocated memory, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information or the execution of arbitrary code.
To fix this vulnerability, update TensorFlow to version 2.6.0 or later. Alternatively, you can apply the provided patch by cherrypicking the commit a4e138660270e7599793fa438cd7b2fc2ce215a6.
Yes, older versions of TensorFlow are also affected by this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the latest supported version or apply the provided patch.
No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update TensorFlow to the latest version or apply the provided patch.
References
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