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CVE-2021-37686

Infinite loop in TensorFlow Lite

5.5 MediumFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.17%Down 0.9 points since Aug 13, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.5

Infinite loop in TensorFlow Lite

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
CVE-2021-37686
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-835
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0412 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
EUVD-2021-0412
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9 6.8

Infinite loop in TFLite

Impact

The strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition:

  for (int i = 0; i < effective_dims;) {
    if ((1 << i) & op_context->params->ellipsis_mask) {
      // ...
      int ellipsis_end_idx =
          std::min(i + 1 + num_add_axis + op_context->input_dims - begin_count,
                   effective_dims);
      // ...
      for (; i < ellipsis_end_idx; ++i) {
        // ...
      }
      continue;
    }
    // ...
    ++i;
  }

An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. This is the only affected version.

For more information

Please consult our security guide for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions.

Attribution

This vulnerability has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Record
GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
CVSS 4.0
6.8 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-835
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
CVE-2021-37686
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
2.1 LowAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Weakness
CWE-835
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
CVE-2021-37686
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9 6.8

Infinite loop in TFLite

Impact

The strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition:

  for (int i = 0; i < effective_dims;) {
    if ((1 << i) & op_context->params->ellipsis_mask) {
      // ...
      int ellipsis_end_idx =
          std::min(i + 1 + num_add_axis + op_context->input_dims - begin_count,
                   effective_dims);
      // ...
      for (; i < ellipsis_end_idx; ++i) {
        // ...
      }
      continue;
    }
    // ...
    ++i;
  }

An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. This is the only affected version.

For more information

Please consult our security guide for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions.

Attribution

This vulnerability has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Record
GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
CVSS 4.0
6.8 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-835
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-37686 No score

Infinite loop in TensorFlow Lite

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-37686
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2022:10014-1 No score

Security update for tensorflow2

This update for tensorflow fixes the following issues:

Update to TF2 2.6.0 which fixes multiple CVEs (boo#1189423).

  • Introduction of bazel6.3 and basel-skylib1.0.3 as build dependencies. The latter has been adapted to all a version in its package name (if %set_ver_suffix is set to 1). This allows multiple versions to exist for one product (not installed). NOTE: basel-skylib1.0.3 does not exist in oS:Factory: basel-skylib in oS:Factory - the base version - is 1.0.3.
Record
openSUSE-SU-2022:10014-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:12116-1 No score

tensorflow-lite-2.9.1-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the tensorflow-lite-2.9.1-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:12116-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-308 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
PYSEC-2021-308
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-599 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
PYSEC-2021-599
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-797 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for ellipsis in axis definition. An attacker can craft a model such that ellipsis_end_idx is smaller than i (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase i and the continue statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.

Record
PYSEC-2021-797
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0rc0 up to 2.6.0rc2
2.6.0rc2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.6.0rc0 up to 2.6.0rc2
2.6.0rc2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.6.0rc0 up to 2.6.0rc2
2.6.0rc2
tensorflow
Bitnami
2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, 2.5.0 up to 2.5.1
2.3.42.4.32.5.1
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0rc0 up to 2.6.0rc2, plus listed versions
2.6.0rc1
2.6.0rc2
tensorflow
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2
2.3.42.4.3
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2
2.3.42.4.3
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2
2.3.42.4.3
bazel-skylib1.0.3
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 1.0.3-bp153.2.1
1.0.3-bp153.2.1
bazel3.7
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 3.7.2-bp153.4.1
3.7.2-bp153.4.1
Show 10 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow2
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2-lite
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-hpc
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-openmpi2-hpc
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
bazel-skylib1.0.3
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 1.0.3-bp153.2.1
1.0.3-bp153.2.1
bazel3.7
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 3.7.2-bp153.4.1
3.7.2-bp153.4.1
tensorflow2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2-lite
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-hpc
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-openmpi2-hpc
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 63 CVEs
before 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-37686 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Google Tensorflow, published August 12, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.17%, the 6th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.6.0rc2.

References

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