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CVE-2021-41215

Null pointer exception in `DeserializeSparse`

5.5 MediumFix available

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.19%Down 0.4 points since Nov 6, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used5.5

Null pointer exception in `DeserializeSparse`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-41215
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-04375.5

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
EUVD-2021-0437
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
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-x3v8-c8qx-3j3r5.5

Null pointer exception in `DeserializeSparse`

Impact

The shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference:

import tensorflow as tf

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(3)
  
@tf.function                 
def test():                  
  y = tf.raw_ops.DeserializeSparse(
    serialized_sparse=tf.data.experimental.to_variant(dataset),
    dtype=tf.int32)

test()

This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). However, in the example above, the argument is a scalar (i.e., rank 0).

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit d3738dd70f1c9ceb547258cbb82d853da8771850.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, 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 members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Record
GHSA-x3v8-c8qx-3j3r
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD5.5

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-41215
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
OSV5.5

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
CVE-2021-41215
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-x3v8-c8qx-3j3r5.5

Null pointer exception in `DeserializeSparse`

Impact

The shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference:

import tensorflow as tf

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(3)
  
@tf.function                 
def test():                  
  y = tf.raw_ops.DeserializeSparse(
    serialized_sparse=tf.data.experimental.to_variant(dataset),
    dtype=tf.int32)

test()

This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). However, in the example above, the argument is a scalar (i.e., rank 0).

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit d3738dd70f1c9ceb547258cbb82d853da8771850.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, 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 members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Record
GHSA-x3v8-c8qx-3j3r
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-41215No score

Null pointer exception in `DeserializeSparse`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-41215
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:12116-1No score

tensorflow-lite-2.9.1-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the tensorflow-lite-2.9.1-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:12116-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-407No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-407
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-624No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-624
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-822No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference code for DeserializeSparse can trigger a null pointer dereference. This is because the shape inference function assumes that the serialize_sparse tensor is a tensor with positive rank (and having 3 as the last dimension). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Record
PYSEC-2021-822
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2
2.5.2
tensorflow
PyPI
before 2.4.4
2.4.4
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2
2.5.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4
2.4.4
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2
2.5.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4
2.4.4
tensorflow
Bitnami
before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, 2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.4.42.5.22.6.1
Show 9 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, plus listed versions
2.5.1
2.5.2
tensorflow
PyPI
before 2.4.4, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 45 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.4
2.4.4
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, plus listed versions
2.5.1
2.5.2
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4, plus listed versions
1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
Show 14 moreShow less
2.1.42.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.42.4.02.4.12.4.22.4.3
2.4.4
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, plus listed versions
2.5.1
2.5.2
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 45 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.4
2.4.4
tensorflow
PyPI
before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, 2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 45 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.02.2.0rc02.2.0rc12.2.0rc22.2.0rc32.2.0rc42.2.12.2.22.2.3
2.4.42.5.22.6.12.7.0
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, 2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
1.15.02.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.3
Show 16 moreShow less
2.1.42.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.42.4.02.4.12.4.22.4.32.5.12.7.0rc1
2.4.42.5.22.6.12.7.0
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 up to 2.5.2, 2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
0.12.00.12.11.0.01.0.11.1.0
Show 45 moreShow less
1.10.01.10.11.11.01.12.01.12.21.12.31.13.11.13.21.14.01.15.01.15.21.15.31.15.41.15.51.2.01.2.11.3.01.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.6.01.7.01.7.11.8.01.9.02.0.02.0.12.0.22.0.32.0.42.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.1.42.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.4
2.4.42.5.22.6.12.7.0

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-41215 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Google Tensorflow, published November 5, 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 2.6.1.

References

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Left out here: 33 versions. The JSON record has them.

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