CVE-2021-29612 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) CWE-120 vulnerability in tensorflow. 1 public exploit reference exists, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for tensorflow — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Heap buffer overflow in `BandedTriangularSolve`
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2021-29612 by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). Outside the shaded patch-first corner.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 385,738 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Counts from FIRST.org, log-scaled.
Real-World Exposure
tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu+4 moreReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects PyPI packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Impact
An attacker can trigger a heap buffer overflow in Eigen implementation of tf.raw_ops.BandedTriangularSolve:
import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np
matrix_array = np.array([])
matrix_tensor = tf.convert_to_tensor(np.reshape(matrix_array,(0,1)),dtype=tf.float32)
rhs_array = np.array([1,1])
rhs_tensor = tf.convert_to_tensor(np.reshape(rhs_array,(1,2)),dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.BandedTriangularSolve(matrix=matrix_tensor,rhs=rhs_tensor)
The implementation calls ValidateInputTensors for input validation but fails to validate that the two tensors are not empty:
void ValidateInputTensors(OpKernelContext* ctx, const Tensor& in0, const Tensor& in1) {
OP_REQUIRES(
ctx, in0.dims() >= 2,
errors::InvalidArgument("In[0] ndims must be >= 2: ", in0.dims()));
OP_REQUIRES(
ctx, in1.dims() >= 2,
errors::InvalidArgument("In[1] ndims must be >= 2: ", in1.dims()));
}
Furthermore, since OP_REQUIRES macro only stops execution of current function after setting ctx->status() to a non-OK value, callers of helper functions that use OP_REQUIRES must check value of ctx->status() before continuing. This doesn't happen in this op's implementation, hence the validation that is present is also not effective.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit ba6822bd7b7324ba201a28b2f278c29a98edbef2 followed by GitHub commit 0ab290774f91a23bebe30a358fde4e53ab4876a0.
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 Ye Zhang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | all versions | 2.1.4pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.1.4' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.2.0&&< 2.2.3 | 2.2.3pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.2.3' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.3.0&&< 2.3.3 | 2.3.3pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.3.3' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.4.0&&< 2.4.2 | 2.4.2pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.4.2' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | all versions | 2.1.4pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.1.4' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | ≥ 2.2.0&&< 2.2.3 | 2.2.3pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.2.3' |
Affected Products
tensorflowgoogleResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for tensorflow, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update tensorflow to 2.1.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-29612 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Constrain what reaches the vulnerable code: limit the size and shape of untrusted input, isolate the affected component in a sandboxed or least-privileged process, and enable the platform's memory-safety mitigations (ASLR, stack protector, hardened allocator) so an out-of-bounds access is more likely to fail closed than to be exploitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2021-29612 in your dependencies?
Find it across PyPI, including transitive dependencies.