CVE-2021-29580
Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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
Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-29580- 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-908
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0321
2.5
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-0321- 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-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
2.0
Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
Impact
The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty:
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([2, 3], shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int64)
out_backprop = tf.zeros([2, 3, 6, 6], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
out_backprop = tf.constant([1, 1], shape=[2, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
The implementation fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925.
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-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp- 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-908
- 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.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-29580- 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-908
- 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.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-29580- 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-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
2.0
Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
Impact
The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty:
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([2, 3], shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int64)
out_backprop = tf.zeros([2, 3, 6, 6], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process
import tensorflow as tf
orig_input = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
out_backprop = tf.constant([1, 1], shape=[2, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
The implementation fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925.
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-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp- 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-908
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29580 No score
Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-29580- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-217 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-217- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-508 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-508- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-706 No score
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty. The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a CHECK condition becomes false and aborts the process. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues. 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-2021-706- 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-2021-29580 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-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29580
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-508.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-706.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-217.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Left out here: 45 versions. The JSON record has them.