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CVE-2021-41220

Use after free in `CollectiveReduceV2`

7.8 HighFix available

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

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
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.21%Down 0.4 points since Nov 6, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used7.8

Use after free in `CollectiveReduceV2`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-41220
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-04427.8

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
EUVD-2021-0442
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
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-gpfh-jvf9-7wg57.8

Use after free / memory leak in `CollectiveReduceV2`

Impact

The async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free:

import tensorflow as tf
  
tf.raw_ops.CollectiveReduceV2(
  input=[],
  group_size=[-10, -10, -10],
  group_key=[-10, -10],
  instance_key=[-10],
  ordering_token=[],
  merge_op='Mul',
  final_op='Div')

This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed:

auto done_with_cleanup = [col_params, done = std::move(done)]() {
  done();
  col_params->Unref();
};
OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC(c,
                     FillCollectiveParams(col_params, REDUCTION_COLLECTIVE,
                                          /*group_size*/ c->input(1),
                                          /*group_key*/ c->input(2),
                                          /*instance_key*/ c->input(3)),
                     done);

Here, done is already moved from by the time OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC macro needs to invoke it in case of errors. In this case, we get an undefined behavior, which can manifest via crashes, std::bad_alloc throws or just memory leaks.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit ca38dab9d3ee66c5de06f11af9a4b1200da5ef75.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

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-gpfh-jvf9-7wg5
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD7.8

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-41220
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-416
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV7.8

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
CVE-2021-41220
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-gpfh-jvf9-7wg57.8

Use after free / memory leak in `CollectiveReduceV2`

Impact

The async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free:

import tensorflow as tf
  
tf.raw_ops.CollectiveReduceV2(
  input=[],
  group_size=[-10, -10, -10],
  group_key=[-10, -10],
  instance_key=[-10],
  ordering_token=[],
  merge_op='Mul',
  final_op='Div')

This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed:

auto done_with_cleanup = [col_params, done = std::move(done)]() {
  done();
  col_params->Unref();
};
OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC(c,
                     FillCollectiveParams(col_params, REDUCTION_COLLECTIVE,
                                          /*group_size*/ c->input(1),
                                          /*group_key*/ c->input(2),
                                          /*instance_key*/ c->input(3)),
                     done);

Here, done is already moved from by the time OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC macro needs to invoke it in case of errors. In this case, we get an undefined behavior, which can manifest via crashes, std::bad_alloc throws or just memory leaks.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit ca38dab9d3ee66c5de06f11af9a4b1200da5ef75.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

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-gpfh-jvf9-7wg5
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVBIT-tensorflow-2021-41220No score

Use after free in `CollectiveReduceV2`

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
BIT-tensorflow-2021-41220
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-2021-412No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-412
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-629No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-629
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-827No score

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free. This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.

Record
PYSEC-2021-827
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0 to 2.6.0
2.6.1
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.6.0 to 2.6.0
2.6.1
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.6.0 to 2.6.0
2.6.1
tensorflow
Bitnami
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1
2.6.1
tensorflow
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
2.7.0rc1
2.6.12.7.0
tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
2.7.0rc1
2.6.12.7.0
tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
2.6.0 up to 2.6.1, 2.7.0rc0 up to 2.7.0, plus listed versions
2.7.0rc1
2.6.12.7.0

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-2021-41220 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) 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 0.21%, the 11th percentile. Fixed in tensorflow 2.6.1.

References

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