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CVE-2021-29608

Heap OOB and null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`

5.3 MediumFix available

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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
Low
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.23%Down 0.8 points since May 15, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.3

Heap OOB and null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-29608
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-131
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0349 5.3

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-0349
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-rgvq-pcvf-hx75 5.8

Heap OOB and null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`

Impact

Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty:

import tensorflow as tf

shape = tf.constant([-1, -1], shape=[2], dtype=tf.int64)
values = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.int64)
default_value = tf.constant(404, dtype=tf.int64)
row = tf.constant([269, 404, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], shape=[7], dtype=tf.int64)
rows = [row]
types = ['ROW_SPLITS']

tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor(
  shape=shape, values=values, default_value=default_value, 
  row_partition_tensors=rows, row_partition_types=types)

The implementation only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones.

There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit b761c9b652af2107cfbc33efd19be0ce41daa33e followed by GitHub commit f94ef358bb3e91d517446454edff6535bcfe8e4a and GitHub commit c4d7afb6a5986b04505aca4466ae1951686c80f6.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.

Record
GHSA-rgvq-pcvf-hx75
CVSS 4.0
5.8 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-131
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.3

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-29608
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.6 MediumAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-131
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.8

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-29608
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-rgvq-pcvf-hx75 5.8

Heap OOB and null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`

Impact

Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty:

import tensorflow as tf

shape = tf.constant([-1, -1], shape=[2], dtype=tf.int64)
values = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.int64)
default_value = tf.constant(404, dtype=tf.int64)
row = tf.constant([269, 404, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], shape=[7], dtype=tf.int64)
rows = [row]
types = ['ROW_SPLITS']

tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor(
  shape=shape, values=values, default_value=default_value, 
  row_partition_tensors=rows, row_partition_types=types)

The implementation only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones.

There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit b761c9b652af2107cfbc33efd19be0ce41daa33e followed by GitHub commit f94ef358bb3e91d517446454edff6535bcfe8e4a and GitHub commit c4d7afb6a5986b04505aca4466ae1951686c80f6.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.

Record
GHSA-rgvq-pcvf-hx75
CVSS 4.0
5.8 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-131
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-29608 No score

Heap OOB and null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-29608
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-245 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-245
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-536 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-536
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-734 No score

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. Due to lack of validation in tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor, an attacker can exploit an undefined behavior if input arguments are empty. The implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L356-L360) only checks that one of the tensors is not empty, but does not check for the other ones. There are multiple DCHECK validations to prevent heap OOB, but these are no-op in release builds, hence they don't prevent anything. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick these commits 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-2021-734
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 2.2.0rc0, 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 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
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
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 less
2.1.42.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
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 less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.12.3.22.3.32.4.12.4.2
2.2.0rc02.3.0rc02.3.42.4.3

History

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-2021-29608 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) 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 0.23%, the 14th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.1.4.

References

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