CVE-2021-29572
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.
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 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 Low
CVSS: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 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-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 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
- 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 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-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 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-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 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
- 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
| 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 2.1.4, 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 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 |
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI |
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 less2.2.12.2.22.3.12.3.22.4.1 |
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI |
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 less1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.2.12.2.22.3.12.3.22.4.1 |
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2 |
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-2021-29572 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
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-5gqf-456p-4836
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/f7cc8755ac6683131fdfa7a8a121f9d7a9dec6fb
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29572
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-500.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-698.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-209.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-5gqf-456p-4836
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 45 versions. The JSON record has them.