CVE-2021-29579
Heap buffer overflow in `MaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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 `MaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-29579- 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-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0320
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-0320- 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-79fv-9865-4qcv
2.0
Heap buffer overflow in `MaxPoolGrad`
Impact
The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow:
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([0.0], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
orig_output = tf.constant([0.0], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
grad = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
ksize = [1, 1, 1, 1]
strides = [1, 1, 1, 1]
padding = "SAME"
tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, grad=grad, ksize=ksize,
strides=strides, padding=padding, explicit_paddings=[])
The implementation fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid:
for (int index = out_start; index < out_end; ++index) {
int input_backprop_index = out_arg_max_flat(index);
FastBoundsCheck(input_backprop_index - in_start, in_end - in_start);
input_backprop_flat(input_backprop_index) += out_backprop_flat(index);
}
Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit a74768f8e4efbda4def9f16ee7e13cf3922ac5f7.
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-79fv-9865-4qcv- 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-119, CWE-787
- 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.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-29579- 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-119, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.8
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-29579- 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-79fv-9865-4qcv
2.0
Heap buffer overflow in `MaxPoolGrad`
Impact
The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow:
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([0.0], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
orig_output = tf.constant([0.0], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)
grad = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=tf.float32)
ksize = [1, 1, 1, 1]
strides = [1, 1, 1, 1]
padding = "SAME"
tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, grad=grad, ksize=ksize,
strides=strides, padding=padding, explicit_paddings=[])
The implementation fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid:
for (int index = out_start; index < out_end; ++index) {
int input_backprop_index = out_arg_max_flat(index);
FastBoundsCheck(input_backprop_index - in_start, in_end - in_start);
input_backprop_flat(input_backprop_index) += out_backprop_flat(index);
}
Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit a74768f8e4efbda4def9f16ee7e13cf3922ac5f7.
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-79fv-9865-4qcv- 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-119, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29579 No score
Heap buffer overflow in `MaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-29579- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-216 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-216- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-507 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-507- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-705 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.MaxPoolGrad is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/ab1e644b48c82cb71493f4362b4dd38f4577a1cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/maxpooling_op.cc#L194-L203) fails to validate that indices used to access elements of input/output arrays are valid. Whereas accesses to input_backprop_flat are guarded by FastBoundsCheck, the indexing in out_backprop_flat can result in OOB access. 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-2021-705- 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-2021-29579 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 11th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.1.4.
References
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-79fv-9865-4qcv
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/a74768f8e4efbda4def9f16ee7e13cf3922ac5f7
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29579
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-507.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-705.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-216.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-79fv-9865-4qcv
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 45 versions. The JSON record has them.