CVE-2021-29538
Division by zero in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
2.5
Division by zero in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-29538- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-369
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0279
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-0279- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j8qc-5fqr-52fp
2.0
Division by zero in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
Impact
An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([0, 0, 0, 0], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 1, 1, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=False,
padding='SAME',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
This is because the implementation computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments):
const size_t size_A = output_image_size * filter_total_size;
const size_t size_B = output_image_size * dims.out_depth;
const size_t size_C = filter_total_size * dims.out_depth;
const size_t work_unit_size = size_A + size_B + size_C;
const size_t shard_size = (target_working_set_size + work_unit_size - 1) / work_unit_size;
If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96.
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-j8qc-5fqr-52fp- CVSS 4.0
- 2.0 Low
CVSS: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 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-369
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-29538- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 2.1 Low
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-369
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-29538- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-j8qc-5fqr-52fp
2.0
Division by zero in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
Impact
An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([0, 0, 0, 0], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 1, 1, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=False,
padding='SAME',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
This is because the implementation computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments):
const size_t size_A = output_image_size * filter_total_size;
const size_t size_B = output_image_size * dims.out_depth;
const size_t size_C = filter_total_size * dims.out_depth;
const size_t work_unit_size = size_A + size_B + size_C;
const size_t shard_size = (target_working_set_size + work_unit_size - 1) / work_unit_size;
If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96.
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-j8qc-5fqr-52fp- CVSS 4.0
- 2.0 Low
CVSS: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 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-369
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29538 No score
Division by zero in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-29538- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-175 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-175- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-466 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-466- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-664 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a division by zero to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L513-L522) computes a divisor based on user provided data (i.e., the shape of the tensors given as arguments). If all shapes are empty then work_unit_size is 0. Since there is no check for this case before division, this results in a runtime exception, with potential to be abused for a denial of service. 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-2021-664- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
tensorflowPyPI |
before 2.1.4 | 2.1.4 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3 | 2.2.3 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3 | 2.3.3 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2 | 2.4.2 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
before 2.1.4 | 2.1.4 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3 | 2.2.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3 | 2.3.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2 | 2.4.2 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
before 2.1.4 | 2.1.4 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3 | 2.2.3 |
Show 18 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3 | 2.3.3 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2 | 2.4.2 |
tensorflowBitnami |
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 |
tensorflowPyPI |
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions 0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0 Show 35 moreShow less1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3 |
2.1.4 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions 2.2.12.2.2 |
2.2.3 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions 2.3.12.3.2 |
2.3.3 |
tensorflowPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions 2.4.1 |
2.4.2 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions 1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3 |
2.1.4 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions 2.2.12.2.2 |
2.2.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions 2.3.12.3.2 |
2.3.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions 2.4.1 |
2.4.2 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
before 2.1.4, plus listed versions 0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0 Show 35 moreShow less1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3 |
2.1.4 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.3, plus listed versions 2.2.12.2.2 |
2.2.3 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.3.0 up to 2.3.3, plus listed versions 2.3.12.3.2 |
2.3.3 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
2.4.0 up to 2.4.2, plus listed versions 2.4.1 |
2.4.2 |
tensorflowPyPI |
before 2.2.0rc0, 2.2.0 up to 2.3.0rc0, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions 0.12.00.12.0rc00.12.0rc10.12.11.0.0 Show 45 moreShow less1.0.11.1.01.1.0rc01.1.0rc11.1.0rc21.10.01.10.0rc01.10.0rc11.10.11.11.01.11.0rc01.11.0rc11.11.0rc21.12.01.12.0rc01.12.0rc11.12.0rc21.12.21.12.31.13.0rc01.13.0rc11.13.0rc21.13.11.13.21.14.01.14.0rc01.14.0rc11.15.01.15.0rc01.15.0rc11.15.0rc21.15.0rc31.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.0rc01.2.0rc11.2.0rc21.2.11.3.01.3.0rc01.3.0rc11.3.0rc2 |
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
before 2.2.0rc0, 2.2.0 up to 2.3.0rc0, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions 1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3 Show 9 moreShow less2.1.42.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2 |
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
before 2.2.0rc0, 2.2.0 up to 2.3.0rc0, 2.3.0 up to 2.3.4, 2.4.0 up to 2.4.3, plus listed versions 0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0 Show 44 moreShow less1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2 |
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-29538 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
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-j8qc-5fqr-52fp
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29538
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-466.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-664.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-175.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-j8qc-5fqr-52fp
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 49 versions. The JSON record has them.