CVE-2021-37654 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.1) Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability in tensorflow. A fix is available for tensorflow — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Heap OOB and CHECK fail in `ResourceGather`
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2021-37654 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-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-gpu🐍tensorflow-gpu+1 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 crash via a CHECK-fail in debug builds of TensorFlow using tf.raw_ops.ResourceGather or a read from outside the bounds of heap allocated data in the same API in a release build:
import tensorflow as tf
tensor = tf.constant(value=[[1,2],[3,4],[5,6]],shape=(3,2),dtype=tf.uint32)
v = tf.Variable(tensor)
tf.raw_ops.ResourceGather(
resource=v.handle,
indices=[0],
dtype=tf.uint32,
batch_dims=10,
validate_indices=False)
The implementation does not check that the batch_dims value that the user supplies is less than the rank of the input tensor.
Since the implementation uses several for loops over the dimensions of tensor, this results in reading data from outside the bounds of heap allocated buffer backing the tensor:
// batch_dims_ = > params.dims() (10 > 2)
for (int i = 0; i < batch_dims_; ++i) {
result_shape.AddDim(params.dim_size(i));
}
for (int i = batch_dims_; i < indices.dims(); ++i) {
result_shape.AddDim(indices.dim_size(i));
}
for (int i = batch_dims_ + 1; i < params.dims(); ++i) {
result_shape.AddDim(params.dim_size(i));
}
In debug mode, .dim_size(i) validates that the argument is less than .dims() using a DCHECK. But the DCHECK is a no-op in release builds.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit bc9c546ce7015c57c2f15c168b3d9201de679a1d.
The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4, 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.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | all versions | 2.3.4pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.3.4' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.4.0&&< 2.4.3 | 2.4.3pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.4.3' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.5.0&&< 2.5.1 | 2.5.1pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.5.1' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | all versions | 2.3.4pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.3.4' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | ≥ 2.4.0&&< 2.4.3 | 2.4.3pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.4.3' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | ≥ 2.5.0&&< 2.5.1 | 2.5.1pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.5.1' |
Affected Products
tensorflowgoogleDetection & 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 2.3.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-37654 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-2021-37654 in your dependencies?
Find it across PyPI, including transitive dependencies.