CVE-2021-29568
Reference binding to null in `ParameterizedTruncatedNormal`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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
Reference binding to null in `ParameterizedTruncatedNormal`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-29568- 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-824
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0309
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-0309- 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-4p4p-www8-8fv9
2.0
Reference binding to null in `ParameterizedTruncatedNormal`
Impact
An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal:
import tensorflow as tf
shape = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.int32)
means = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
stdevs = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
minvals = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
maxvals = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal(
shape=shape, means=means, stdevs=stdevs, minvals=minvals, maxvals=maxvals)
This is because the implementation does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape:
int32 num_batches = shape_tensor.flat<int32>()(0);
If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 5e52ef5a461570cfb68f3bdbbebfe972cb4e0fd8.
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 Ying Wang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.
- Record
GHSA-4p4p-www8-8fv9- 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-476, CWE-824
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-29568- 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-824, CWE-476
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.8
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-29568- 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-4p4p-www8-8fv9
2.0
Reference binding to null in `ParameterizedTruncatedNormal`
Impact
An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal:
import tensorflow as tf
shape = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.int32)
means = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
stdevs = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
minvals = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
maxvals = tf.constant((1), dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal(
shape=shape, means=means, stdevs=stdevs, minvals=minvals, maxvals=maxvals)
This is because the implementation does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape:
int32 num_batches = shape_tensor.flat<int32>()(0);
If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 5e52ef5a461570cfb68f3bdbbebfe972cb4e0fd8.
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 Ying Wang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.
- Record
GHSA-4p4p-www8-8fv9- 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-476, CWE-824
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29568 No score
Reference binding to null in `ParameterizedTruncatedNormal`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-29568- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-205 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-205- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-496 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-496- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-694 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. An attacker can trigger undefined behavior by binding to null pointer in tf.raw_ops.ParameterizedTruncatedNormal. This is because the implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/3f6fe4dfef6f57e768260b48166c27d148f3015f/tensorflow/core/kernels/parameterized_truncated_normal_op.cc#L630) does not validate input arguments before accessing the first element of shape. If shape argument is empty, then shape_tensor.flat<T>() is an empty array. 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-2021-694- 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-2021-29568 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 0.20%, the 9th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.1.4.
References
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-4p4p-www8-8fv9
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/5e52ef5a461570cfb68f3bdbbebfe972cb4e0fd8
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29568
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-496.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-694.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-205.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-4p4p-www8-8fv9
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 49 versions. The JSON record has them.