CVE-2021-37676: TensorFlow CPU - Null Pointer Dereference in SparseFillEmptyRows
Summary
CVE-2021-37676: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow-cpu across 3 version ranges.
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3
< 578e634b4f1c1c684d4b4294f9e5281b2133b3ed
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 · PyPI
- tensorflow · PyPI
- tensorflow-gpu · PyPI
The same CVE-2021-37676 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 CPU is a specific package within TensorFlow 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-2021-37676) exists in TensorFlow CPU versions 2.3.0 to 2.4.3 and 2.5.1, where an attacker can exploit a null pointer dereference issue in the tf.raw_ops.SparseFillEmptyRows function. The shape inference implementation of this function fails to validate the input arguments, allowing an attacker to bind a reference to a null pointer. This can lead to undefined behavior and potentially enable an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.
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.
-
>= 2.3.0, < 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"
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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 CPU to a patched version.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-37676) in TensorFlow CPU allows an attacker to exploit a null pointer dereference issue, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service. Users are advised to update their TensorFlow CPU installations to the latest patched version or apply the provided patch. For further support on vulnerability remediation, contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-cpu →
FAQ
TensorFlow CPU is a package within TensorFlow that focuses on running TensorFlow on CPUs. It provides the necessary components and optimizations for efficient execution of machine learning models on CPU architectures.
This vulnerability can allow an attacker to exploit a null pointer dereference issue in TensorFlow CPU, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service.
The vulnerability affects TensorFlow CPU versions 2.3.0 to 2.4.3 and 2.5.1.
To fix this vulnerability, update TensorFlow CPU to version 2.6.0 or apply the provided patch. The patch has also been backported to TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4.
No specific workaround is provided for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update TensorFlow CPU to a patched version.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tensorflow-cpu.
