CVE-2021-41218: TensorFlow GPU - Division by 0 in AllToAll Shape Inference
Summary
CVE-2021-41218: TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. Affects tensorflow-gpu across 5 version ranges.
< 2.4.4
>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1
>= 2.7.0rc0, < 2.7.0
< a8ad3e5e79c75f36edb81e0ba3f3c0c5442aeddc
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-2021-41218 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 open source platform for machine learning. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem of tools, libraries, and resources for building 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 deep learning tasks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-41218) exists in TensorFlow GPU versions prior to 2.7.0. It stems from a flaw in the shape inference code for the AllToAll operation. When the split_count argument is set to 0, a division by zero error occurs during execution. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition or potentially execute arbitrary code. The impact of this vulnerability depends on the context in which TensorFlow GPU is used, but it poses a significant risk to systems relying on TensorFlow GPU for machine learning tasks.
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.
-
< 2.4.42.4.4pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.4.4" -
>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.22.5.2pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.5.2" -
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.12.6.1pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.6.1" -
>= 2.7.0rc0, < 2.7.02.7.0pip install --upgrade "tensorflow-gpu==2.7.0"
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is crucial to update TensorFlow GPU to the fixed versions as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2021-41218) in TensorFlow GPU's shape inference code for AllToAll operation can lead to a division by zero error. This vulnerability can have severe consequences, including denial-of-service and potential code execution. It is crucial to update TensorFlow GPU to the fixed versions (2.7.0 or later, or backported versions) to mitigate the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can 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 in machine learning tasks.
The vulnerability can lead to a division by zero error, potentially causing a denial-of-service condition or enabling arbitrary code execution.
You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. It requires no signup and uses your Pipfile.lock to analyze and alert for open-source vulnerabilities.
No, only versions prior to 2.7.0 are affected. However, versions 2.6.1, 2.5.2, and 2.4.4 are also impacted and have received the fix.
No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. Updating to the fixed versions is the recommended solution.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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