CVE-2021-29563: Denial of Service in TensorFlow
Summary
CVE-2021-29563: 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
< 31bd5026304677faa8a0b77602c6154171b9aec1
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-2021-29563 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, allowing users to leverage the power of hardware acceleration for faster model training and inference. However, a vulnerability has been identified in TensorFlow that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in TensorFlow is caused by a CHECK-failure in the implementation of tf.raw_ops.RFFT. When Eigen code operates on an empty matrix, it triggers an assertion that results in program termination. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause a DoS attack by crafting malicious inputs that trigger the CHECK-failure. The impact of this vulnerability can be significant, as it can disrupt the availability of TensorFlow-based applications and services.
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 known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the fix by upgrading to the patched versions of TensorFlow.
Conclusion
The identified vulnerability in TensorFlow can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack. It is crucial to upgrade to the patched versions of TensorFlow to mitigate the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-cpu →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning that provides tools and resources for developing and deploying machine learning models.
This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack, disrupting the availability of TensorFlow-based applications and services.
To fix this vulnerability, upgrade your TensorFlow installation to the patched versions: 2.5.0, 2.4.2, 2.3.3, 2.2.3, or 2.1.4.
No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the fix by upgrading to the patched versions of TensorFlow.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the official TensorFlow documentation and the vulnerability advisory on the PyPA advisory database.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tensorflow-cpu.
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