CVE-2021-37662: TensorFlow GPU - Undefined Behavior via Reference Binding to nullptr
Summary
CVE-2021-37662: TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow-gpu across 4 version ranges.
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.4
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3
< 9c87c32c710d0b5b53dc6fd3bfde4046e1f7a5ad
< 429f009d2b2c09028647dd4bb7b3f6f414bbaad7
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-cpu · PyPI
The same CVE-2021-37662 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-2021-37662) in TensorFlow GPU allows an attacker to generate undefined behavior by exploiting a reference binding to nullptr in the BoostedTreesCalculateBestGainsPerFeature function. A similar attack can also occur in the BoostedTreesCalculateBestFeatureSplitV2 function. The implementation of these functions does not properly validate the input values, leading to potential security risks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the TensorFlow GPU process.
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.
-
>= 2.3.0, < 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. Users are strongly recommended to apply the official patches and update their TensorFlow GPU installations to the latest version.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-37662) in TensorFlow GPU allows an attacker to exploit undefined behavior via reference binding to nullptr, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. Users are advised to update their TensorFlow GPU installations to the latest patched version as soon as possible. For further support on vulnerability remediation, 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 allows an attacker to generate undefined behavior and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the TensorFlow GPU process.
To fix this vulnerability, update your TensorFlow GPU installation to the latest patched version (2.6.0 or the respective patched versions for affected older releases).
No specific workarounds are provided for this vulnerability. It is recommended to apply the official patches.
While this vulnerability can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, there is no specific mention of data loss or leakage in the vulnerability details. However, it is always recommended to keep software up to date to mitigate potential security risks.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tensorflow-gpu.
