CVE-2021-29616: TensorFlow GPU - Null Pointer Dereference in TrySimplify
Summary
CVE-2021-29616: 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
< e6340f0665d53716ef3197ada88936c2a5f7a2d3
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-2021-29616 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 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-2021-29616) in TensorFlow GPU arises from the implementation of TrySimplify in the arithmetic optimizer. In certain corner cases where a node with no inputs is being optimized, there is undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. This can lead to crashes, memory corruption, or other unexpected behavior. The issue affects versions of TensorFlow GPU up to and including 2.4.3. Exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service.
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"
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the fix by upgrading to a patched version of TensorFlow GPU.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-29616) in TensorFlow GPU poses a risk of crashes, memory corruption, or other unexpected behavior due to a null pointer dereference in the TrySimplify function. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest patched version of TensorFlow GPU (2.5.0) or one of the backported fixed versions (2.4.2, 2.3.3, 2.2.3, 2.1.4) to mitigate the risk. Regularly updating your software and staying informed about security vulnerabilities is crucial for maintaining a secure machine learning environment.
See every vulnerability recorded for tensorflow-gpu →
FAQ
TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning that provides a comprehensive set of tools and libraries for developing and deploying machine learning models.
TensorFlow GPU is a variant of TensorFlow that leverages GPU acceleration for faster computation. It is commonly used for training and inference of deep learning models.
TrySimplify is a function in the arithmetic optimizer of TensorFlow that aims to simplify mathematical expressions in the computational graph. It is used during the optimization process to improve performance.
Exploitation of this vulnerability requires the ability to provide crafted input to TensorFlow GPU, which may not be feasible in all scenarios. However, if successful, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service.
There are no known instances of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild. However, it is important to apply the fix to ensure the security and stability of your TensorFlow GPU installation.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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