CVE-2021-37673: Denial of Service Vulnerability in TensorFlow
Summary
CVE-2021-37673: 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
< d7de67733925de196ec8863a33445b73f9562d1d
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-2021-37673 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 allows users to build and train machine learning models using high-level APIs and provides efficient execution on a variety of hardware platforms. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that can lead to a denial of service attack.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2021-37673, resides in the tf.raw_ops.MapStage function of TensorFlow. An attacker can trigger a denial of service by exploiting a CHECK-fail in this function. The issue arises due to the lack of validation for the key input, allowing an attacker to provide an invalid or empty tensor. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely, potentially leading to the disruption of TensorFlow-based machine learning systems. The vulnerability 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 specific workaround provided for this vulnerability. It is recommended to follow the steps mentioned in the 'how_to_fix' section to update TensorFlow to the latest version or apply the patch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TensorFlow is susceptible to a denial of service vulnerability in the tf.raw_ops.MapStage function. This vulnerability can be mitigated by updating TensorFlow to the latest version or applying the provided patch. Regularly updating dependencies, including TensorFlow, is crucial for maintaining the security of machine learning systems. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning that provides tools and libraries for building and training machine learning models.
This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to trigger a denial of service attack, potentially disrupting TensorFlow-based machine learning systems.
To fix this vulnerability, update TensorFlow to the latest version or apply the provided patch.
Yes, older versions of TensorFlow, including 2.3.4, 2.4.3, and 2.5.1, are also affected by this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the latest patched version.
Yes, this vulnerability can be exploited remotely, making it important to apply the necessary fixes to ensure the security of TensorFlow-based systems.
References
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