CVE-2021-29547: TensorFlow-CPU - Out-of-Bounds Access in QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization
Summary
CVE-2021-29547: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow-cpu across 5 version ranges.
>= 2.2.0, < 2.3.0rc0
< 2.2.0rc0
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3
< d6ed5bcfe1dcab9e85a4d39931bd18d99018e75b
Fixed in 4 releases; the minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- tensorflow · Bitnami
- tensorflow · PyPI
- tensorflow · PyPI
- tensorflow-gpu · PyPI
The same CVE-2021-29547 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
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-CPU is a specific package that focuses on running TensorFlow on CPUs. It is widely used in various industries and research domains for machine learning tasks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29547) in TensorFlow-CPU resides in the tf.raw_ops.QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization function. An attacker can trigger a segmentation fault and cause a denial of service by accessing data outside the bounds of the function's inputs. The implementation assumes that the inputs are not empty, but if any of them are empty, accessing the element at index 0 leads to accessing data outside the bounds. This vulnerability can be exploited to crash the application or potentially execute arbitrary code. The issue has been identified and fixed in TensorFlow 2.5.0, and the fix will also be backported to earlier versions.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 2.21.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-cpu==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.
-
< 2.2.0rc02.2.0rc0pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-cpu==2.2.0rc0" -
>= 2.2.0, < 2.3.0rc02.3.0rc0pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-cpu==2.3.0rc0" -
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.42.3.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-cpu==2.3.4" -
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.32.4.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-cpu==2.4.3"
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability. It is advised to update to the fixed version or apply the provided patch.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29547) in TensorFlow-CPU can be exploited to cause a denial of service by accessing data outside the bounds of a specific function. It is crucial to update to the fixed version (2.5.0) or apply the provided patch to mitigate the risk. For further assistance or support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-cpu →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning that provides a comprehensive set of tools and resources for developing and deploying machine learning models.
TensorFlow-CPU is a specific package that focuses on running TensorFlow on CPUs. It is widely used for machine learning tasks in various industries and research domains.
This vulnerability can lead to a segmentation fault and denial of service. It can be exploited by an attacker to crash the application or potentially execute arbitrary code.
To fix this vulnerability, update TensorFlow-CPU to version 2.5.0 or later. If you are using an affected version, you can also apply the provided patch.
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the fixed version or apply the provided patch.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tensorflow-cpu.
