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CVE-2021-29572

Reference binding to nullptr in `SdcaOptimizer`

2.5 LowFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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 0.4 points since May 15, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 2.5

Reference binding to nullptr in `SdcaOptimizer`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-29572
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-476
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0313 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-0313
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-5gqf-456p-4836 2.0

Reference binding to nullptr in `SdcaOptimizer`

Impact

The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer:

import tensorflow as tf

sparse_example_indices = [tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_feature_indices = [tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_feature_values = []

dense_features = []
dense_weights = []

example_weights = tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)
example_labels = tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)

sparse_indices = [tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_weights = [tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32), tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)]
  
example_state_data = tf.constant([0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0], shape=[1, 4], dtype=tf.float32)
  
tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer(
  sparse_example_indices=sparse_example_indices,
  sparse_feature_indices=sparse_feature_indices,
  sparse_feature_values=sparse_feature_values, dense_features=dense_features,
  example_weights=example_weights, example_labels=example_labels, 
  sparse_indices=sparse_indices, sparse_weights=sparse_weights, 
  dense_weights=dense_weights, example_state_data=example_state_data,
  loss_type="logistic_loss", l1=0.0, l2=0.0, num_loss_partitions=1,
  num_inner_iterations=1, adaptative=False)

The implementation does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit f7cc8755ac6683131fdfa7a8a121f9d7a9dec6fb.

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-5gqf-456p-4836
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-476
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 2.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-29572
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-476
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-29572
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-5gqf-456p-4836 2.0

Reference binding to nullptr in `SdcaOptimizer`

Impact

The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer:

import tensorflow as tf

sparse_example_indices = [tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_feature_indices = [tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_feature_values = []

dense_features = []
dense_weights = []

example_weights = tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)
example_labels = tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)

sparse_indices = [tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64), tf.constant((0), dtype=tf.int64)]
sparse_weights = [tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32), tf.constant((0.0), dtype=tf.float32)]
  
example_state_data = tf.constant([0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0], shape=[1, 4], dtype=tf.float32)
  
tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer(
  sparse_example_indices=sparse_example_indices,
  sparse_feature_indices=sparse_feature_indices,
  sparse_feature_values=sparse_feature_values, dense_features=dense_features,
  example_weights=example_weights, example_labels=example_labels, 
  sparse_indices=sparse_indices, sparse_weights=sparse_weights, 
  dense_weights=dense_weights, example_state_data=example_state_data,
  loss_type="logistic_loss", l1=0.0, l2=0.0, num_loss_partitions=1,
  num_inner_iterations=1, adaptative=False)

The implementation does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit f7cc8755ac6683131fdfa7a8a121f9d7a9dec6fb.

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-5gqf-456p-4836
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-476
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29572 No score

Reference binding to nullptr in `SdcaOptimizer`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-29572
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-209 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-209
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-500 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-500
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-698 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.SdcaOptimizer triggers undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/60a45c8b6192a4699f2e2709a2645a751d435cc3/tensorflow/core/kernels/sdca_internal.cc) does not validate that the user supplied arguments satisfy all constraints expected by the op(https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/raw_ops/SdcaOptimizer). 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-2021-698
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-2021-29572 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.

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