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CVE-2021-29512

Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount`

2.5 LowFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Low

Exploit likelihood

0.21%Down 0.4 points since May 15, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 2.5

Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-29512
CVSS 3.1
2.5 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-120
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0253 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
EUVD-2021-0253
CVSS 3.1
2.5 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4278-2v5v-65r4 1.0

Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount`

Impact

If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor, then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow:

import tensorflow as tf
tf.raw_ops.RaggedBincount(splits=[0], values=[1,1,1,1,1], size=5, weights=[1,2,3,4], binary_output=False)

This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op:

    for (int idx = 0; idx < num_values; ++idx) {
      while (idx >= splits(batch_idx)) {
        batch_idx++;
      }
      ...
    }

Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit eebb96c2830d48597d055d247c0e9aebaea94cd5.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

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-4278-2v5v-65r4
CVSS 4.0
1.0 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
2.5 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-29512
CVSS 3.1
2.5 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.6 MediumAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.8

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-29512
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-4278-2v5v-65r4 1.0

Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount`

Impact

If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor, then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow:

import tensorflow as tf
tf.raw_ops.RaggedBincount(splits=[0], values=[1,1,1,1,1], size=5, weights=[1,2,3,4], binary_output=False)

This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op:

    for (int idx = 0; idx < num_values; ++idx) {
      while (idx >= splits(batch_idx)) {
        batch_idx++;
      }
      ...
    }

Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit eebb96c2830d48597d055d247c0e9aebaea94cd5.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

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-4278-2v5v-65r4
CVSS 4.0
1.0 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
2.5 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29512 No score

Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-29512
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-149 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-149
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-440 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-440
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-638 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. If the splits argument of RaggedBincount does not specify a valid SparseTensor(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/sparse/SparseTensor), then an attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow. This will cause a read from outside the bounds of the splits tensor buffer in the implementation of the RaggedBincount op(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8b677d79167799f71c42fd3fa074476e0295413a/tensorflow/core/kernels/bincount_op.cc#L430-L433). Before the for loop, batch_idx is set to 0. The user controls the splits array, making it contain only one element, 0. Thus, the code in the while loop would increment batch_idx and then try to read splits(1), which is outside of bounds. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2 and TensorFlow 2.3.3, as these are also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-638
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2
2.4.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2
2.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2
2.4.2
tensorflow
Bitnami
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2
2.3.32.4.2
tensorflow
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.2
2.3.3
tensorflow
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.4.1
2.4.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.2
2.3.3
Show 6 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.4.1
2.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.2
2.3.3
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.4.1
2.4.2
tensorflow
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.4.1
2.3.32.4.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.4.1
2.3.32.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.22.4.1
2.3.32.4.2

History

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

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

In short

CVE-2021-29512 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 2.5) in Google Tensorflow, published May 14, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.21%, the 11th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.3.3.

References

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