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CVE-2021-41216

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

5.5 MediumFix available

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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

0.16%Down 0.5 points since Nov 6, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used5.5

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-41216
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-120
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-04385.5

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-0438
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-3ff2-r28g-w7h95.5

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

Impact

The shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow:

import tensorflow as tf
@tf.function
def test():
  y = tf.raw_ops.Transpose(x=[1,2,3,4],perm=[-10])
  return y

test()

This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid:

for (int32_t i = 0; i < rank; ++i) {
  int64_t in_idx = data[i];
  if (in_idx >= rank) {
    return errors::InvalidArgument("perm dim ", in_idx,
                                   " is out of range of input rank ", rank);
  }
  dims[i] = c->Dim(input, in_idx);
}

where Dim(tensor, index) accepts either a positive index less than the rank of the tensor or the special value -1 for unknown dimensions.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14.

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-3ff2-r28g-w7h9
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-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD5.5

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-41216
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 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-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV7.8

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-41216
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-3ff2-r28g-w7h95.5

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

Impact

The shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow:

import tensorflow as tf
@tf.function
def test():
  y = tf.raw_ops.Transpose(x=[1,2,3,4],perm=[-10])
  return y

test()

This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid:

for (int32_t i = 0; i < rank; ++i) {
  int64_t in_idx = data[i];
  if (in_idx >= rank) {
    return errors::InvalidArgument("perm dim ", in_idx,
                                   " is out of range of input rank ", rank);
  }
  dims[i] = c->Dim(input, in_idx);
}

where Dim(tensor, index) accepts either a positive index less than the rank of the tensor or the special value -1 for unknown dimensions.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14.

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-3ff2-r28g-w7h9
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-120, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-41216No score

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-41216
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-2021-408No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-408
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-625No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-625
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-823No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the shape inference function for Transpose is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow. This occurs whenever perm contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in perm are all valid. 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-2021-823
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
2.4.0 up to 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-2021-41216 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 0.16%, the 5th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.6.1.

References

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