CVE-2021-29556: Denial of Service in TensorFlow

tensorflow-gpu Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

14/05/2021

Disclosed on

CVE-2021-29556

CVE

Yes i

Fix available

Unrated

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

CVE-2021-29556: 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 < 4071d8e2f6c45c1955a811fee757ca2adbe462c1

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-2021-29556 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 allows users to build and train machine learning models using a flexible and efficient computational graph representation. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29556) in TensorFlow is caused by a runtime error in the tf.raw_ops.Reverse function. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by triggering a division based on the first dimension of the tensor argument. This can result in a FPE (Floating Point Exception) error, leading to a DoS condition. The vulnerability affects versions of TensorFlow up to 2.4.3. The impact of this vulnerability can be severe, as it can disrupt the availability of TensorFlow-based applications and services.

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.

< 2.2.0rc0 2.2.0rc0

pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.2.0rc0"

>= 2.2.0, < 2.3.0rc0 2.3.0rc0

pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.3.0rc0"

>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4 2.3.4

pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.3.4"

>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3 2.4.3

pip 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 course of action is to apply the available patches and update TensorFlow to the latest version.

Conclusion

The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29556) in TensorFlow can result in a denial of service (DoS) condition. Users are advised to update their TensorFlow installations to the latest patched version to mitigate the risk of exploitation. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-gpu →

FAQ

What is TensorFlow?

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning that provides tools and libraries for building and training machine learning models.

What is the impact of this vulnerability?

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition in TensorFlow-based applications and services.

Which versions of TensorFlow are affected?

The vulnerability affects versions of TensorFlow up to 2.4.3.

How can I fix this vulnerability?

To fix this vulnerability, update your TensorFlow installation to the latest patched version.

Is there a workaround available?

There is no specific workaround provided for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the available patches and update TensorFlow.

References

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