Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2021-29519

CHECK-fail in SparseCross due to type confusion

2.5 LowFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

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

0.19%Down 0.6 points since May 15, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 2.5

CHECK-fail in SparseCross due to type confusion

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-29519
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-843
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0260 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
EUVD-2021-0260
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-772j-h9xw-ffp5 2.0

CHECK-fail in SparseCross due to type confusion

Impact

The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service:

import tensorflow as tf

hashed_output = False
num_buckets = 1949315406
hash_key = 1869835877
out_type = tf.string 
internal_type = tf.string

indices_1 = tf.constant([0, 6], shape=[1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
indices_2 = tf.constant([0, 0], shape=[1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
indices = [indices_1, indices_2]

values_1 = tf.constant([0], dtype=tf.int64)
values_2 = tf.constant([72], dtype=tf.int64)
values = [values_1, values_2]

batch_size = 4
shape_1 = tf.constant([4, 122], dtype=tf.int64)
shape_2 = tf.constant([4, 188], dtype=tf.int64)
shapes = [shape_1, shape_2]

dense_1 = tf.constant([188, 127, 336, 0], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_2 = tf.constant([341, 470, 470, 470], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_3 = tf.constant([188, 188, 341, 922], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
denses = [dense_1, dense_2, dense_3]

tf.raw_ops.SparseCross(indices=indices, values=values, shapes=shapes, dense_inputs=denses, hashed_output=hashed_output,
                       num_buckets=num_buckets, hash_key=hash_key, out_type=out_type, internal_type=internal_type)

The above code will result in a CHECK fail in tensor.cc:

void Tensor::CheckTypeAndIsAligned(DataType expected_dtype) const {
  CHECK_EQ(dtype(), expected_dtype)
      << " " << DataTypeString(expected_dtype) << " expected, got "
      << DataTypeString(dtype());
  ...
}

This is because the implementation is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements:

  if (DT_STRING == values_.dtype())
      return Fingerprint64(values_.vec<tstring>().data()[start + n]);
  return values_.vec<int64>().data()[start + n];

Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit b1cc5e5a50e7cee09f2c6eb48eb40ee9c4125025.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.

Record
GHSA-772j-h9xw-ffp5
CVSS 4.0
2.0 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/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-843
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-29519
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
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-843
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-29519
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-772j-h9xw-ffp5 2.0

CHECK-fail in SparseCross due to type confusion

Impact

The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service:

import tensorflow as tf

hashed_output = False
num_buckets = 1949315406
hash_key = 1869835877
out_type = tf.string 
internal_type = tf.string

indices_1 = tf.constant([0, 6], shape=[1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
indices_2 = tf.constant([0, 0], shape=[1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
indices = [indices_1, indices_2]

values_1 = tf.constant([0], dtype=tf.int64)
values_2 = tf.constant([72], dtype=tf.int64)
values = [values_1, values_2]

batch_size = 4
shape_1 = tf.constant([4, 122], dtype=tf.int64)
shape_2 = tf.constant([4, 188], dtype=tf.int64)
shapes = [shape_1, shape_2]

dense_1 = tf.constant([188, 127, 336, 0], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_2 = tf.constant([341, 470, 470, 470], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_3 = tf.constant([188, 188, 341, 922], shape=[4, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
denses = [dense_1, dense_2, dense_3]

tf.raw_ops.SparseCross(indices=indices, values=values, shapes=shapes, dense_inputs=denses, hashed_output=hashed_output,
                       num_buckets=num_buckets, hash_key=hash_key, out_type=out_type, internal_type=internal_type)

The above code will result in a CHECK fail in tensor.cc:

void Tensor::CheckTypeAndIsAligned(DataType expected_dtype) const {
  CHECK_EQ(dtype(), expected_dtype)
      << " " << DataTypeString(expected_dtype) << " expected, got "
      << DataTypeString(dtype());
  ...
}

This is because the implementation is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements:

  if (DT_STRING == values_.dtype())
      return Fingerprint64(values_.vec<tstring>().data()[start + n]);
  return values_.vec<int64>().data()[start + n];

Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit b1cc5e5a50e7cee09f2c6eb48eb40ee9c4125025.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.

Record
GHSA-772j-h9xw-ffp5
CVSS 4.0
2.0 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/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-843
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29519 No score

CHECK-fail in SparseCross due to type confusion

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-29519
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-156 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-156
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-447 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-447
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-645 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The API of tf.raw_ops.SparseCross allows combinations which would result in a CHECK-failure and denial of service. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3d782b7d47b1bf2ed32bd4a246d6d6cadc4c903d/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_cross_op.cc#L114-L116) is tricked to consider a tensor of type tstring which in fact contains integral elements. Fixing the type confusion by preventing mixing DT_STRING and DT_INT64 types solves this issue. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-645
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
before 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3
2.2.3
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
before 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3
2.2.3
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
before 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3
2.2.3
Show 18 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
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
before 2.1.4, 2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2
tensorflow
PyPI
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 35 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
2.1.4
tensorflow
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions
2.2.12.2.2
2.2.3
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
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions
1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
2.1.4
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions
2.2.12.2.2
2.2.3
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions
2.3.12.3.2
2.3.3
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
2.4.1
2.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 35 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
2.1.4
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions
2.2.12.2.2
2.2.3
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
before 2.1.4, 2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.0rc00.12.0rc10.12.11.0.0
Show 45 moreShow less
1.0.11.1.01.1.0rc01.1.0rc11.1.0rc21.10.01.10.0rc01.10.0rc11.10.11.11.01.11.0rc01.11.0rc11.11.0rc21.12.01.12.0rc01.12.0rc11.12.0rc21.12.21.12.31.13.0rc01.13.0rc11.13.0rc21.13.11.13.21.14.01.14.0rc01.14.0rc11.15.01.15.0rc01.15.0rc11.15.0rc21.15.0rc31.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.0rc01.2.0rc11.2.0rc21.2.11.3.01.3.0rc01.3.0rc11.3.0rc2
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
before 2.1.4, 2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
Show 5 moreShow less
2.2.12.2.22.3.12.3.22.4.1
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
before 2.1.4, 2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 40 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.2.12.2.22.3.12.3.22.4.1
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2

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-2021-29519 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 0.19%, the 8th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.1.4.

References

This page doesn't list everything

Left out here: 45 versions. The JSON record has them.

MoveEnter Open