CVE-2020-15209: Null Pointer Dereference in tensorflow-gpu
Summary
CVE-2020-15209: In tensorflow-lite before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, a crafted TFLite model can force a node to have as input a tensor backed by a nullptr buffer. Affects tensorflow-gpu across 6 version ranges.
< 0b5662bc2be13a8c8f044d925d87fb6e56247cd8
< 1.15.4
>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3
>= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1
Fixed in 5 releases; the minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- tensorflow · Bitnami
- tensorflow · PyPI
- tensorflow-cpu · PyPI
- tensorflow · PyPI
The same CVE-2020-15209 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-gpu is a Python package that provides GPU support for TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning framework. It allows users to leverage the power of GPUs to accelerate their TensorFlow computations. This package is widely used in various machine learning and deep learning applications.
Vulnerability Detail
A crafted TFLite model in tensorflow-lite versions before 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, and 2.3.1 can exploit a vulnerability that leads to a null pointer dereference. By changing a buffer index in the flatbuffer serialization, a read-only tensor can be converted to a read-write one, causing a null pointer dereference when the uninitialized buffer is accessed. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to crash the application or potentially execute arbitrary code.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 2.12.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.12.0"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.
-
< 1.15.41.15.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==1.15.4" -
>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.32.0.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.0.3" -
>= 2.1.0, < 2.1.22.1.2pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.1.2" -
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.12.2.1pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.2.1" -
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.12.3.1pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.3.1"
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the patched versions as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The null pointer dereference vulnerability in tensorflow-gpu can be mitigated by updating to the patched versions. It is important to keep software dependencies up to date to ensure the security and stability of applications. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-gpu →
FAQ
tensorflow-gpu is a Python package that provides GPU support for TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning framework.
Versions of tensorflow-gpu before 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, and 2.3.1 are affected by this vulnerability.
This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to crash the application or potentially execute arbitrary code.
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the patched versions.
Users can update tensorflow-gpu to the patched versions (1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1) using the package manager or by manually installing the updated version.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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