CVE-2021-29547: TensorFlow GPU - Out-of-bounds Access in QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization
Summary
CVE-2021-29547: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow-gpu 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-cpu · 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 GPU is a variant of TensorFlow that leverages GPU acceleration for faster computation. It is widely used in various industries and research domains for training and inference of deep learning models.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29547) exists in the tf.raw_ops.QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization function of TensorFlow GPU. An attacker can trigger a segmentation fault and cause a denial of service by accessing data outside of the bounds. The vulnerability arises from an assumption made in the implementation that the inputs are not empty. If any of the inputs are empty, accessing the element at index 0 results in accessing data outside of the buffer. This vulnerability can be exploited 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.
-
< 2.2.0rc02.2.0rc0pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.2.0rc0" -
>= 2.2.0, < 2.3.0rc02.3.0rc0pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.3.0rc0" -
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.42.3.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.3.4" -
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.32.4.3pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==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 provided for this vulnerability. The recommended approach is to upgrade to the fixed version of TensorFlow GPU.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29547) in TensorFlow GPU's QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization function can be exploited to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code. It is crucial to upgrade to TensorFlow GPU version 2.5.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Alternatively, if you are using an older version within the supported range, you can apply the fix by cherrypicking the relevant commit. For further assistance or support in addressing this vulnerability, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-gpu →
FAQ
TensorFlow GPU is a variant of TensorFlow that utilizes GPU acceleration for faster computation of machine learning models.
This vulnerability can lead to a denial of service by causing a segmentation fault. It may also have the potential for arbitrary code execution.
The vulnerability affects TensorFlow GPU versions 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2, and versions prior to 2.5.0.
To fix this vulnerability, upgrade to TensorFlow GPU version 2.5.0 or later. Alternatively, you can cherrypick the commit with the fix onto your current version if it falls within the supported range.
No specific workaround is provided for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version of TensorFlow GPU.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tensorflow-gpu.
