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CVE-2021-29521

Segfault in SparseCountSparseOutput

2.5 LowFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

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

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 2.5

Segfault in SparseCountSparseOutput

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
CVE-2021-29521
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-131
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0262 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
EUVD-2021-0262
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-hr84-fqvp-48mm 2.3

Segfault in SparseCountSparseOutput

Impact

Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken.

import tensorflow as tf

indices = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)
values = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_shape = tf.constant([-100, -100, -100], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64)
weights = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)

tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput(indices=indices, values=values, dense_shape=dense_shape, weights=weights, minlength=79, maxlength=96, binary_output=False)

This is because the implementation assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>) data structure.

  bool is_1d = shape.NumElements() == 1;
  int num_batches = is_1d ? 1 : shape.flat<int64>()(0);
  ...
  auto per_batch_counts = BatchedMap<W>(num_batches); 

If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape.

Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c57c0b9f3a4f8684f3489dd9a9ec627ad8b599f5.

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.

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-hr84-fqvp-48mm
CVSS 4.0
2.3 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:N/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-131
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
CVE-2021-29521
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-131
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
CVE-2021-29521
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-hr84-fqvp-48mm 2.3

Segfault in SparseCountSparseOutput

Impact

Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken.

import tensorflow as tf

indices = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)
values = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)
dense_shape = tf.constant([-100, -100, -100], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64)
weights = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0], dtype=tf.int64)

tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput(indices=indices, values=values, dense_shape=dense_shape, weights=weights, minlength=79, maxlength=96, binary_output=False)

This is because the implementation assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>) data structure.

  bool is_1d = shape.NumElements() == 1;
  int num_batches = is_1d ? 1 : shape.flat<int64>()(0);
  ...
  auto per_batch_counts = BatchedMap<W>(num_batches); 

If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape.

Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c57c0b9f3a4f8684f3489dd9a9ec627ad8b599f5.

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.

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-hr84-fqvp-48mm
CVSS 4.0
2.3 LowCVSS:4.0/AV:N/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-131
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29521 No score

Segfault in SparseCountSparseOutput

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-29521
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-158 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
PYSEC-2021-158
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-449 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
PYSEC-2021-449
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-647 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Specifying a negative dense shape in tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput results in a segmentation fault being thrown out from the standard library as std::vector invariants are broken. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L213) assumes the first element of the dense shape is always positive and uses it to initialize a BatchedMap<T> (i.e., std::vector<absl::flat_hash_map<int64,T>>(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8f7b60ee8c0206a2c99802e3a4d1bb55d2bc0624/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L27)) data structure. If the shape tensor has more than one element, num_batches is the first value in shape. Ensuring that the dense_shape argument is a valid tensor shape (that is, all elements are non-negative) solves this issue. 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.

Record
PYSEC-2021-647
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-2021-29521 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 2.3.3.

References

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